ironwood, hophornbeam - Betulaceae Ostrya virginiana

Taxonomy

Cladeangiosperm
FamilyBetulaceae
GenusOstrya
Speciesvirginiana
Common Nameironwood, hophornbeam
iTree CodeOSVI

Plant Form

FormTree:
Height30 feet
Spread15 feet
DeciduousYes

Identification Description

Foliagegreen, oblong to oval with pointed tip, doubly serrated, short petiole Leaf Type  Information Icon Simple
Barktan/brown with thin vertical strips
Budbrown/red, or green, pointed, with overlapping scales (imbricate) Bud Arrangement Information Icon Alternate
Twigslender, light gray to tannish brown or reddish brown, zig-zag appearance
Flowermale: 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)
Fruitnutlet inside an air-bladder, groups stacked in hanging clusters, noticeably hairy
Fall Coloryellow

Site Characteristics

USDA Zones   info for zones pH LevelsSalt Tolerance
Min3a Min4.1 SoilIntolerant
Max11a Max7.5 SprayIntolerant

Shade ToleranceDrought ToleranceAllelopathy
Tolerant Moderate No

Species Status

Nebraska Native Yes Check
U.S. Native Yes Check
Region of OriginUnited States, Canada, Mexico
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