The Eastern hop hornbeam tree ( Ostrya virginiana ) is a low deciduous understory tree . It is name by its birch - like leaves , lightsome brown shaggy bark , and yellowish - greenish blossom clustering . rose chestnut trees are attractive in the landscape with a pyramidal , rounded crown and their power to mature in almost any location . As an understory tree , the ironwood tree performs well in deeply shaded conditions , and it also grows just as well in full sunlight .
Also call theAmerican Hop Hornbeam , the ironwood is hump for its incredibly racy , firm timber resulting from its slow growth . The attractive cold - hardy tree grows well on spill area , as well as rough timberland , pack remains soil , and is relatively resistant to drouth .
This article is a complete recognition guide to the ironwood Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Descriptions and pictures of Eastern hop hornbeam leave of absence , bark , flower , and fruit will help you key out it in the landscape painting . If you settle this tree is perfect for your garden landscape , there is a handy care scout at the death of the clause .
Ironwood Tree (Ostrya virginiana) Facts
American hophornbeam ( Ostrya virginiana )
Ironwood is class as a small to average - sized ornamental tree belonging to the genusOstryain the birch familyBetulaceae . The ironwood tree grow 20 to 40 foot . ( 6 – 12 m ) tall and up to 30 foot . ( 9 m ) astray . It has a trunk diameter of up to 10 ” ( 25 cm ) , cover in shedding , shaggy barque .
Ironwood Tree grow easy , average out around 12 ” ( 30 curium ) or less per year . It will take 15 yr to grow 10 to 15 ft . ( 3 – 4.5 m ) tall . youthful Mesua ferrea have a distinctive pyramidical Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe that gradually becomes more oval and rounded as it matures .
Ironwood trees boom in USDA zones 3 to 9 . The cold - hardy tree perform well in all growing conditions — from cryptical shade to full sunlight . As long as the soil is well - drained and not prostrate to flooding , ironwoods develop well in most soils .
An attractive feature article of ironwood trees is their horizontal , droop branches covered in serrate , ovate leaves . Immature tree diagram have fairly bleary branches that become smoother and grey as the tree diagram matures .
The slow growth of ironwood trees is why the woodland is so robust . ironwood tree has one of the hardest woods of all the aboriginal North American tree . It ’s harder thanmaple , livid oak , hickory , elm , andbirch trees . Because of this , the Ellen Price Wood is used for making tool handles , fencing postal service , and mallets .
Other common figure for ironwood treerefer to the tree ’s strength or growth feature . For example , the name calling American hophornbeam and wooly hop hornbeam have-to doe with to the hops - like fruit that the tree produces after flowering . It is also sometimes refer to as leverwood or hardhack .
Being a member of the birch familyBetulaceae , the ironwood tree shares characteristics of birch andelm trees . Its leaves are lancet - form with serrated margins like birch trees . to boot , its spreading pyramidal to oval configuration gives it the appearance of elm tree . However , ironwood trees are importantly smaller than elm tree and birch tree .
Ironwood Tree Flowers
Ironwood tree flowers
Flowers on Ostrya virginiana trees are in the sort of dangling catkins — yellowish - greenish or blood-red - brown sag clusters . The tube-shaped clusters valuate around 3 ” ( 75 mm ) long and grow in grouping of up to four . Ironwood is a monoicous tree , stand for male and female blossom appear on the same Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
virile ironwood flowers are yellowish - brown and appear as scaly bracketed spikes drooping from branches . On the other hand , female ironwood peak are pale gullible blossom spike fend erect on young branchlet .
A feature of ironwood tree flowers is that the male ament prevail on the tree throughout winter .
Ironwood Tree Leaves
ironwood tree tree diagram leaves
Leaves on iron-tree tree diagram are light greenish , lancelike shaped with double serrated margins and a hunky-dory fuzzy grain on the upper side . Theoval - elliptic pointed leavesmeasure 3 ” to 6 ” ( 75 – 150 mm ) recollective and 2 ” ( 50 mm ) wide . The ironwood leaves are characterise by rich parallel rooftree from the midvein to the boundary .
iron-tree tree leaves are simple leaves that grow alternately on thin twigs . The pointed lance - shaped blades be given to be small further up the canopy .
Ironwood depart in fall
It ’s easy to mistake iron tree leaves forbirch tree diagram leaves . However , ironwood tree leaves move around an insignificant yellow color in the fall compared to vibrant golden - yellow birch leaves . to boot , ironwood leaves usually drop in the beginning than birch rod tree leaves .
Ironwood Tree Bark
Eastern hop hornbeam Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree barque
The bark covering the ironwood tree diagram automobile trunk is light brown and shaggy that grow into orthogonal plates . The bark on young ironwood tree is relatively unruffled with several lenticels . However , in time the bark becomes scaly and peels easy from the tree . Mature Mesua ferrea tree diagram have greyish - chocolate-brown loose scaly plates .
Ironwood Tree Seeds (Fruit)
Ironwood tree fruit
The ironwood tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is identified by its hop - corresponding yield — clusters of source - bearing pods of papery sacs , each bear a bantam , oval nutlet . The pendulous clusters of papery enclosures produce between 1 ” and 2 ” ( 25 to 50 mm ) long . The cum clusters develop in summertime and persist on the tree through wintertime .
Ironwood Tree Identification
The identifiable features of the ironwood tree tree are its light green , pointed , spear - shaped leaves with doubly - serrated security deposit , drop copper color - brown colored hop - like fruits , and light to dark brown shaggy , narrow comic strip of bark . Mesua ferrea is a relatively modest tree in a landscape compared to birch and elm trees .
Ironwood Trees in the Landscape
Ironwood Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is an attractive wraith - liberal tree diagram , create it idealistic for grow as an understory tree . The iron-tree tree do well in various wet and soil condition but grows best in well - drained soil in part sun . In the landscape painting , ironwood has a rounded canopy and slim , rough trunk .
Ironwood is an excellent tree to grow in urban and residential landscape painting . The hardy tree diagram copes well with various urban conditions , like befoulment and pack soils . This is one reason why it ’s a popular street tree . In summation , the tree ’s relatively minuscule size of it form it ideal for residential garden to grow as a tad tree in a backyard or around patio , specially where space is restricted .
One reason to moot growing an ironwood tree diagram is that it want little pruning to hold its shape . In addition , its robust branching organization mean that it ’s resistant to breakage in high winds or under labored ice or snow .
Where to Plant Ironwood Tree
Ironwood trees perform well planted in full sun to partial shade . However , as an attractive upright understory tree diagram , it will also develop well in mysterious shade . Ironwoods also adapt well to varying soil conditions . Therefore , you may plant it in ironic , gravelly territory or heavily compacted corpse land .
When planting an ironwood tree tree , the most critical growing circumstance is that the territory drains well . Ostrya virginianadoesn’t like soggy roots , and it wo n’t grow well in area prone to flooding .
Another circumstance is its tolerance of piquant conditions . Ironwood is illiberal of salt , so it should n’t be planted near road that are heavily salted in the wintertime .
How to Plant Ironwood Tree
It ’s good to plant ironwood as a greenhouse tree that has grown in a container . Ironwood trees are notoriously slow growers , and plant a tree from a nursery gives you a neat mind start .
To plant a pottedOstrya virginiana , train the location by digging a muddle as deep as the root egg but three times as wide . Next , take away the tree from its pot and loosen the root as much as possible . Then set it in the center of the kettle of fish , check that the part where the trunk broadens to the antecedent ( the tree diagram flare ) is slightly above earth level .
The next step is to half fill the mess with native soil , tamping the flat coat firmly as you backfill the blot . Then thoroughly water the roots to hydrate them and eliminate air air hole . last , fill up the hole up to the soil line , pressing down as you go .
After planting the ironwood tree , thoroughly irrigate the ground and put a 2 ” to 3 ” ( 5 – 7.5 cm)layer of mulch over the root area . Mulching a new - planted tree helps lock in wet , prevents evaporation , and stops green goddess from growing through .
Ironwood Tree (Ostrya virginiana) Care Guide
It ’s easy to deal for ironwood trees , as they can adapt to various environmental conditions . However , the iron - hard trees want specific care for the best result , especially during the first years after set . On the other hand , well - establish Eastern hop hornbeam tree diagram tolerate drouth and postulate small maintenance .
How to Water Ironwood Trees
base ironwood tree trees do n’t necessitate much tearing for healthy emergence . Typically , you’re able to give the tree around 1 ” ( 25 mm ) of weewee per workweek , as long as the top layer of grease dries out between watering . However , ironwood Tree are relativelydrought - toleranttreesand will hold period of dry stipulation .
Regular watering is critical for the first two age after planting an iron-tree tree . Regular root hydration help oneself to develop a healthy , robust ascendant organization . During the first two year , deeply water the tree twice a week , from spring through summertime . In addition , it may be necessary to irrigate the tree more frequently especially during dry weather .
Ironwood Tree Fertilization
Ironwoodtrees can profit from regular fertilizationto keep them intelligent and forbid pest damage — however , it ’s not usually required . you’re able to utilise a nitrogen - robust fertilizer to advertize green leafy growth . It ’s crucial to avoid excessive nitrogen in the soil as this could affect flower and seed production .
Generally , there is no indigence to amend the soil or apply fertilizer to newly - constitute ironwood trees . This is because the salts in the fertiliser compound could cut the roots .
It ’s good to note that ironwood trees typically produce well in average soil without lend fertilizers . The best advice is to work in some rotted manure or constitutive compost to the root word area in bounce . However , if you decide the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree requires additional nutrients , get a soil test done first to determine the type of tree plant food to use .
How to Prune Ironwood
Ironwood does n’t necessitate much snip to develop a impregnable ramification structure . While the tree diagram is relatively young , you’re able to remove some sidelong branch to shape a predominant primal trunk . This is especially necessary with some iron-tree tree that grow multiple stems . However , an established ironwood tree does n’t need even pruning .
As part of regular tree criminal maintenance , it ’s a good thought to visit ironwood each year in former nightfall after the farewell have dropped . Look for broken , dead , or diseased arm , as well as limb that are rubbing together . you’re able to remove those branches to boost sound growth and prevent disease .
Ironwood Propagation
Although prow press cutting are the most common method to circularise shrub and Tree , ejaculate propagation is the preferred style to grow an ironwood Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Ironwood seeds require warm stratification and cold stratification to germinate successfully .
It ’s good to note that when handling ironwood seeds , you should wear gloves . The ornamental tree is also call theitchy treebecause the ejaculate clusters can cause itchy fingers — like after handling fiberglass insulation without protection .
How to Grow Ironwood Tree From Seed
Ostrya virginiana trees are relatively easy to produce from germ by sowing them like a shot in the footing in other fall .
Alternatively , you could collect the right seeds between late summer and early surrender and dry them .
Ironwood seminal fluid take 60 day of lovesome social stratification followed by 120 - 140 days of cold social stratification . This is necessary for successful sprouting . To growOstrya virginianafrom seed , this is what you should do :
After stratifying the semen , you’re able to put the seeds in lowly tummy fill up with dampish , well - debilitate pot grunge to germinate using standard procedures .
How to Grow Ironwood Seedlings
To pullulate graded ironwood seeds , prepare a seed territory mixture from 3 partspeat mossand one partperlite . Fill small individual pots with the potting mix and mist to moisten . Next , put a ejaculate in each slew , about 0.25 ” ( 6 mm ) under the aerofoil , cover with plastic , and put in a bright , warm piazza out of verbatim sunlight .
Once the seeds sprout after a few hebdomad , place them in a brighter locating where they get around 12 hours of light daily . After one month , you will need to transfer the ironwood seedling to a larger potbelly . Then , you’re able to plant them alfresco in the ground when the seedlings have develop about 15 ” to 20 ” ( 40 – 50 cm ) marvelous .
Pests Affecting Ironwood Growth
A welfare of growing an ornamental ironwood tree tree in the landscape painting is that it is relatively pest - free . Healthy tree diagram seldom suffer any scathe from common tree diagram bugs like aphid , plate insects , or foliage borers .
The only significant cuss to involve rose chestnut tree leave is the two - lined chestnut woodborer ( Agrilus bilineatus ) . Thisslender black beetlecan live and fee on the privileged barque of ironwood trees . The beetle activeness can result in defoliation . However , the well way to prevent this is to irrigate the ironwood well during drouth periods .
Diseases Affecting Ironwood Tree Growth
Ironwood is a robust , stalwart tree , and typical Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree diseases seldom affect its ontogenesis . Sometimes , canker diseases can cause individual branch to die back . However , it ’s normally possible to avoid this by preventing the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree from getting stressed . So , water it well during teetotal weather .
at times , foliar diseases like powdery mould , leaf blister , and leaf spots can feign the tree leaves . However , they never significantly harm the tree ’s health , and generally , there is no need to contain them .
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