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Musclewood (American Hornbeam, Ironwood, Blue Beech)Carpinus caroliniana
Height: 8-10 m
Width: 8-10 m
Zone: 3
Exposure: Part shade to shade
Native
Rounded to oval crown with wide spreading branches. In early spring, it develops attractive greenish-yellow catkins, which develop into winged nutlets later in the season. The dark-green leaves turn yellow, orange and red in the fall. The bark is absolutely beautiful, resembling muscles as it matures.
A relatively low-maintenance plant; attractively shaped understorey tree for shady sites. Suitable for lawns or naturalized in woodland areas. Available as a multi-stemmed clump or tree form.