Ostrya virginiana

Common Names

American Hop-Hornbeam, Hop-Hornbeam, Ironwood

Summary

Ostrya virginiana, commonly called Eastern hop hornbeam or ironwood, is a small to medium deciduous tree native to eastern North America and parts of Mexico. It typically grows 25–40 feet tall with a broad, oval to rounded crown, grayish-brown bark that peels in narrow strips, and birch-like leaves that are alternate, simple, 2–5 inches long with doubly serrate margins that turn yellow in fall, hop-like fruit clusters hang from branch tips, and very hard, durable wood earns the nickname ironwood. It tolerates full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils, is drought-tolerant once established, and is not tolerant of flooding or salt, commonly used as a shade or street tree or in woodland gardens and valued for low maintenance with few serious pest or disease problems. For planting and propagation, sow seeds after collection with stratification or use hardwood cuttings, hardy in USDA zones 3–9 and wildlife value is provided by its seeds and hop-like fruits, making it suitable for naturalized landscapes and urban plantings.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

25-40 feet

Spread

20-30 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade. Tolerates Full Sun to Full Shade and is shade-tolerant.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loamy soil, slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.1–6.9)

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil.

Soil pH

No single ideal soil pH; tolerates acidic to alkaline soils, roughly pH 4.2–8.0 (north 4.2–7.6; south 4.6–5.6)

Bloom Color

Red-brown (male) and light green (female)

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green, turning yellow in fall

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow growing, sometimes faster in nutrient-rich, adequately moist soils.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Stump sprouting

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds, including hummingbirds