Foliage
Bark
Bud
Twig
Fruit
Form
Video
Taxonomy
| Family | Betulaceae |
|---|---|
| Genus | Carpinus |
| Species | caroliniana |
| Common Name | musclewood, bluebeech |
| iTree Code | CACA18 |
Plant Form
| Form | Tree: rounded crown |
|---|---|
| Height | 30 feet |
| Spread | 20 feet |
| Deciduous | Yes |
Identification Description
| Foliage | long, oval with pointed tip, finely serrated edge and V-shaped veins | Leaf Type
 |
Simple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needles | 0 | ||
| Bark | thin, smooth gray; rippled wood, gives the trunk & branches a “muscled” appearance | ||
| Bud | small pointed, reddish/brown with distinct overlapping scales (imbricate) | Bud Arrangement
|
Alternate |
| Twig | gray/brown, slender, zig-zag | ||
| Flower | catkins green/yellow; male: are slender and pendulous (formed same year); female: are shorter; male and female on the same tree (monoecious) | ||
| Fruit | a leafy bract hanging groups with a small nutlet underneath in a "stacked" bunch | ||
| Fall Color | red, orange, yellow | ||
Site Characteristics
| USDA Zones
|
pH Levels | Salt Tolerance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | 3b | Min | 4.0 | Soil | Intolerant |
| Max | 9a | Max | 7.4 | Spray | Intolerant |
| Shade Tolerance | Drought Tolerance | Allelopathy |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerant | Intolerant | No |
Species Status
| Nebraska Native | |
|---|---|
| U.S. Native |
|
| Region of Origin | United States, Canada |
| More Information | Visit External Site |