Carpinus caroliniana
Ironwood
- Hardiness: Zone :
- 3
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Geography:
- Native
- Light:
- Sun, Sun/Part Shade, Shade/Part Sun, Shade
- Growth Rate:
- Moderate, Slow
- Moisture:
- Moderately Wet to Moderately Dry, Dry to Occasionally Moist
- Special Features:
- Drought Tolerant
- Container Sizes:
- 2-gallon, 7-gallon
- Mature Height:
- 30'
- Mature Spread:
- 20'
Because the favored habitat of this small tree is forest understory, it rarely gets to fulfill its destiny as a plant with exquisite form and habit. Rigid branching patterns, smooth gray bark that reveals muscle-like wood beneath, dangling catkin flowers in spring, clean small birch-like leaves, and unusual leafy cones in fall make this one of those small trees you wonder how you lived without until you plant some. Adaptable to sun, shade, moist or relatively dry soils, bottomland or upland--a plant as tough as its name.
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