Images of the Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)

Hophornbeam

Ostrya virginiana

Also called Eastern Hophornbeam, ironwood or leverwood, this medium-sized, understory tree is native to eastern North America. The trunk is covered in a characteristic gray-brown bark, which flakes off in shaggy plates. Its resilient wood is used to make tool handles and fence posts.

Habitat:Woodlands, occurs in a wide variety of soils.

Growth Habit:Deciduous tree, growing to 15 m tall.

Bloom Time:Mid-spring.

Longevity:Short-lived.

Presence in US:AL AR CT DC DE FL GA IA IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS NC ND NE NH NJ NY OH OK PA RI SC SD TN TX VA VT WI WV WY

Presence in Canada:MB NB NS ON PE QC

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This project was supported in part by NSF Grant IIS-03-25867 (ITR: An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Exploration and Discovery in the 21st Century) and by the Washington Biologists' Field Club.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation (NSF).