Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum

Scientific name: Carpinus caroliniana

Common name: American hornbeam

Native: Yes

Native range: Native to the majority of the eastern United States, as well as some parts of southeastern Canada [1,4].

Distribution in North America: Click to view the USDA Plants Database page for C. caroliniana.

USDA Zones: 3-9A [3]

Maximum age: On average, American hornbeam lives to 100 years, but may live as long as 150 years [6].

Ecology: Birds, foxes, and gray squirrels forage the seeds, catkins, and buds, while deer, cottontails, and beaver browse the stems [1,2,3,4]. Beavers also frequently use this tree while making their dens, as it is typically abundant in their habitats [1,2,3,4]. Its foliage hosts the larvae of a diversity of butterfly and moth species, including the charismatic Io moth [7].

Ethnobotany: Although the wood is exceptionally hard, the tree is typically too small to provide useful lumber [1,3,4]. Indigenous American groups use the bark and roots for various medical applications [5].