Foliage
Bark
Bud
Twig
Flower
Fruit
Taxonomy
| Family | Betulaceae |
|---|---|
| Genus | Ostrya |
| Species | virginiana |
| Common Name | ironwood, hophornbeam |
| iTree Code | OSVI |
Plant Form
| Form | Tree: |
|---|---|
| Height | 30 feet |
| Spread | 15 feet |
| Deciduous | Yes |
Identification Description
| Foliage | green, oblong to oval with pointed tip, doubly serrated, short petiole | Leaf Type
 |
Simple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needles | 0 | ||
| Bark | tan/brown with thin vertical strips | ||
| Bud | brown/red, or green, pointed, with overlapping scales (imbricate) | Bud Arrangement
|
Alternate |
| Twig | slender, light gray to tannish brown or reddish brown, zig-zag appearance | ||
| Flower | male: performed catkins in group of 3, green tinged with red: female: catkins develop singly from new growth, greenish with red stigmas; male and female on same trees (monoecious) | ||
| Fruit | nutlet inside an air-bladder, groups stacked in hanging clusters, noticeably hairy | ||
| Fall Color | yellow | ||
Site Characteristics
| USDA Zones
|
pH Levels | Salt Tolerance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | 3a | Min | 4.1 | Soil | Intolerant |
| Max | 11a | Max | 7.5 | Spray | Intolerant |
| Shade Tolerance | Drought Tolerance | Allelopathy |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerant | Moderate | No |
Species Status
| Nebraska Native |
|
|---|---|
| U.S. Native |
|
| Region of Origin | United States, Canada, Mexico |
| More Information | Visit External Site |