Hornbeam, American (Musclewood)

Hornbeam prefers moist, organically rich soils, but can tolerate dryness when established. It is shade tolerant and is best grown with wind protection and afternoon shade from other trees or buildings. In the landscape, hornbeam often becomes a low-branched, multi-trunked small tree that is often wider than it is tall, so it should be sited carefully. Suitable to plant east of the 100th meridian.

Seeds, buds, or catkins are eaten by a number of songbirds, ruffed grouse, ring-necked pheasants, bobwhite, turkey, fox, and gray squirrels. Cottontails, beaver, and white-tailed deer eat the leaves, twigs, and larger stems. Beaver heavily uses American hornbeam, because it is readily available in typical beaver habitat.

Hornbeams have extremely hard wood used for tool handles, longbows, walking sticks/canes and golf clubs.

Hornbeams suffer few if any serious insect or disease problems but is generally intolerant of tough, urban conditions. It needs careful siting to do well. 

Common Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is a European and Asian species that grows significantly larger than its American cousin (about twice the size). Otherwise, it is very similar, including the sinewy smooth bark and muscle-like trunk and branches. A more narrow and upright variety of the species called “Upright European Hornbeam” has become quite common as a landscape tree in eastern Nebraska in recent years. It is expected to grow 40-50’ tall and 20-25’ wide.

The name hornbeam derives from its extremely hard wood that takes a “horn-like” polish and was once used by early Americans to make bowls, ox yokes and tool handles. The “beam” in hornbeam refers to the beam of wood that separated the ox bows.