Ironwood

Ostrya virginiana (Betulaceae) is a deciduous understory tree native to eastern North America from Cape Breton and Ontario to Minnesota and south to Florida and Texas. It grows slowly to 25 to 40 feet tall and 39 feet wide (about 20 feet at 20 years), forming a pyramidal shape in youth that becomes rounded with drooping branches. The oval-lanceolate, birch-like leaves (5 to 13 cm) are sharply doubly serrate and dark green. Male catkins hang in threes and are visible through winter. Distinctive hop-like fruit clusters (inflated papery sacs in 15 cm clusters) appear in fall.

American hop-hornbeam grows best in part shade on cool, moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, though it adapts to dry, gravelly slopes and ridges. Water needs are low and drought tolerance is moderate. The extremely hard, dense wood was historically used for tool handles and fence posts. The species is rarely grown as an ornamental despite its attractive form and interesting fruit. Witches' brooms (a common branch deformity) provide habitat for wildlife. Hardy in Zones 3b to 8b.