This native tree diagram with colorful drop foliage adapts to a wide of the mark mood range .
A North American native tree boasting a kaleidoscope of coloration , the American hornbeam unfurls striking reddish - purpleness leaves in the spring . The leave turn dark unripened in summer and then fall ablaze with wraith of yellow and orange - bolshy in the nightfall . This tree convey interest to the wintertime landscape painting , too , by displaying drear - grey bark with a slenderly rippled visual aspect that earned the vulgar name musclewood . A slow - grow Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that eventually experience 20 to 35 feet tall and wide-eyed , the American hornbeam suits most residential landscape painting . It ’s also notably pest- and disease - resistant .
American hornbeam should be plant in the spring .
Where to Plant American Hornbeam
Find a spot where the tree gets at least partial shade , and the soil is fat and acidic . Choose the location well because American hornbeam is difficult to transfer due to its deep , spreading lateral root .
greenhouse - produce American hornbeam saplings typically amount as a single - stem tree . Most cultivar of American hornbeam are columnar in shape when they are untested , then develop a pyramidal shape as they get on . habituate this tree as a specimen works in a minute yard or in a curbside planting strip , or industrial plant minute , upright trees in groups to produce a populate screen or shelterbelt . American hornbeam is a wearisome agriculturalist ; it can take 10 to progress to full superlative .
How and When to Plant American Hornbeam
Dig a planting maw that is at least doubly as wide as the tooth root ball and has the same depth . Position the tree in the planting golf hole so the top of the root ball is grade with the smother score . Backfill with the original grime . Water well and preserve to irrigate the freshly planted Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree profoundly and on a regular basis during the first growing season . If cervid tend to browse in your M , protect the young tree with a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree sentry go for the first mates of growing seasons .
flora trees 20 to 35 feet asunder .
American Hornbeam Care Tips
Once shew , American hornbeam is nearly maintenance - free .
Light
Plant American hornbeam in full or part shade . An understory tree diagram in its native home ground , it will grow well with as little as four hours of bright light a day .
Soil and Water
The territory should be productive , thick , fecund , and well - drain , with apH between4.5 and 7.4 . Although it tolerates Lucius Clay or poorly drain soil , it will grow more slow than in well - drained soil .
Until the tree diagram is give , it needs to be water regularly in the absence seizure of rain . Spread a 2 - in - thicklayer of mulchover the root zone to foreclose soil moisture loss . The established tree is pretty drought - tolerant but can also withstand occasional moderate flooding .
Temperature and Humidity
American hornbeam grows naturally in a variety of climates , from northern locations in Minnesota with subzero winter to the Gulf Coast with meek ardent winters . The tree does best in moderate humidity . In a hot , arid climate , it will in all likelihood struggle .
Fertilizer
There is no need to fecundate the tree ; American hornbeam grows just o.k. in deep , fertile territory . Scattering alayer of compostaround the base each outpouring is optional but will certainly put up to the tree diagram ’s wellness .
Pruning
Prune American hornbeam toremove any dead , damaged , or diseased arm . As the tree grow , it is also potential to gradually remove the downcast branch to well define the torso . Any pruning should be done in the wintertime to avoid sap bleeding .
Potting and Repotting American Hornbeam
Although this is a tardily - growing tree , it is not worthy to begrown in a container .
Pests and Problems
American hornbeam rarely gets serious pests or diseases . Occasionally leaf place , cankers , verticillium wilt , or twig blight may occur . Under stress , the tree is susceptible to damage from the chestnut tree bore bit .
How to Propagate American Hornbeam
The propagation of American hornbeam is not recommended for home base gardener . The seeds ask to be collected while green and require several months of moist treatment . propagate the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree vegetatively is also well left to nursery trade professionals . In increase , some of the popular cultivars areprotected by flora patents .
Types of American Hornbeam
‘Firespire’ Musclewood
Carpinus caroliniana‘J.N. Upright ’ is a small cultivar value for its bright orange - red free fall foliage , which is not a vulgar feature of the species . The tree has a narrow , upright cast and attain 15 metrical foot in stature and 10 feet in breadth at maturity . geographical zone 4 - 7
‘Ball O’Fire’ Musclewood
This trademarked cultivar has a succinct soma with a rounded canopy . In the fall , the leafage turns a bright orange Marxist . It uprise very tardily up to a height and width of 15 feet . zona 3 - 7
‘Palisade’
The height - to - breadth ratio of this trademarked cultivar is 2 to 1 so it is a good option for smaller yard . It is an upright , narrow tree with powerfully upswept branching , strain a meridian of 20 to 40 feet and 10 to 20 feet wide at maturity . The leaf turn into shades of carmine , orangish , and yellow in the fall . Zone 6 - 8
American Hornbeam Companion Plants
Common Witch Hazel
For a native plant landscape , chooseHamamelis virginiana , a North Americanwitch hazel specie . It is the most attractive in the fall when it flower yellow and develops superb golden fall foliage . The shrub grow 12 feet tall and wide . Zone 3 - 8
Serviceberry
These small trees and large bush in theAmalanchiergenusthrive through all four seasons . Serviceberries show off their blossoms — which are ordinarily white-hot but may also be pinkish or yellow — just before their blue - green leafage emerge in former outpouring , offer some of the firstsources of nectar for pollinators . Serviceberry sizes diverge greatly , ranging from a low - growing 6 - groundwork shrub to a 25 - feet- grandiloquent and extensive tree - comparable bush . Zone 2 - 9
Eastern Redbud
Unlike the American hornbeam , Cercis canadensisgrows quickly , reaching seven to 10 foot in altitude in as little as five or six years . The small lavender - pink , white , or Battle of Magenta salad days seem on the tree in March and April . In the fall the center - condition leaves turn golden . Zone 4 - 9
Frequently Asked Questions
The dead brown leaves often remain on the tree throughout the wintertime and only drop in the springtime though that does not make American hornbeam a messy tree . The American hophornbeam ( Ostrya virginiana ) , on the other hand , to which the American hornbeam is not relate , can be messy when it drop its leaf and cone - like seed pods
The tree has a shallow , wide - spreading stem system but it is not know to have any issues . American hornbeam also has a small root flare ( the point where the topmost rootage come out from the soil ) .
update by Nadia Hassani
