Eastern Hop Hornbeam 10 Gallon

Ostrya virginiana

A small to medium-sized, deciduous, understory tree with a generally rounded crown develops birch-like, dark yellowish-green leaves up to 5 inches long that mature to a muted yellow in autumn and often drop early. Reddish-brown male flowers and greenish female flowers appear in separate catkins on the same tree. The male catkins are more prominent and persist throughout winter while the female catkins turn into clusters of hop-like nutlets that songbirds enjoy. Hop hornbeam prefers drier, rocky soils, but tolerates clay if not too wet and drought. Being one of the hardest, toughest native trees, they possess excellent wind and cold tolerance, grow well in urban environments, host swallowtail butterflies, and have good disease and insect resistance. Grow in the sun or shade with Penstemon, perennial geranium, and native Viburnum.

• Full sun to part shade
• 25-40' h x 20-30' w
• Ohio native
• Fall color