SCIENTIFIC NAME: Carpinus caroliniana

Carpinus caroliniana 'Fastigiata'

COMMON NAME: American hornbeam, ironwood, blue beech

LEAVES: Alternate. Doubly serrate, veins do not fork, hairs on mid-vein only. Not very pubescent. Yellow to orange fall color.

Both leaf photos above are from Carpinus caroliniana 'Fastigiata' FRUIT: 3 lobed modified leaf (bract) that is brown with a seed in a pocket at the base. Very distinctive.

FLOWERS: Monoecious. Catkins up to 2" long.

BARK: Smooth and rippled like muscles (fluted).

OTHER: Buds are dark in color and lay flat against the twig (appressed). Very dense wood (40 lb./ft3). High, dry or low, moist sites are okay. Native to low, moist sites. Good tree! Grows 40' to 50' tall. Has upright branching. A member of the Betulaceae family. Their is an upright (fastigiate) cultivar of this species available. Have seen this cultivar in Atlanta. This species has been used effectively in the landscape at Callaway Gardens by Robert Marvin, one of this country's leading landscape architects.