This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Carpinus caroliniana
  • American Hornbeam

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Carpinus genus in the family Betulaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Canopy
    Canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
  • Secondary canopy
    Secondary canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline,very alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Carpinus caroliniana has 0 edible uses listed
Carpinus caroliniana has 0 material uses listed
Carpinus caroliniana has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - cooked[1]. An emergency food, used when all else fails[2].

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

Wood - heavy, close grained, very hard, strong, but not very durable in the soil. It weighs 45lb per cubic foot. Too small to be exploited commercially, this high quality wood is often used locally for flooring, cogs, tool handles, golf clubs etc[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. It is especially suitable for making levers[6] and is also a good fuel[4].

Unknown part

Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

American hornbeam was employed medicinally by some native North American Indian tribes, though it is not used in modern herbalism[11]. The inner bark is astringent[11]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea and difficult urination with discharge[11].

Unknown part

Astringent

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy or Secondary canopy

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in an outdoors seedbed as soon as it is ripe[12]. Germination is usually good, though it may take 18 months[13]. If collected whilst still 'green' (after the seed is ripe but before it has dried fully on the plant) and sown immediately it should germinate in the following spring[13]. Grow the plants on for two years in the seedbed and then plant them out into their permanent positions in the winter. The average seed viability is around 65%[14]. Pre-treat stored seed with 4 weeks warm and 12 weeks cold stratification and sow in a cold frame[14]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame until they are at least 15cm tall before planting them into their permanent positions.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Carpinus caroliniana. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Thrives in any good loam, including chalk, it does not demand much light[15][16]. Prefers a deep open loam[15]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. A slow-growing and short-lived tree in the wild[9], it is slower growing than C. betulinus in cultivation[16]. Seed production is cyclic, a year of heavy yields being followed by 2 - 4 years of low yields[9].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Carpinus caroliniana. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Carpinus caroliniana.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Carpinus caroliniana
Genus
Carpinus
Family
Betulaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2]
Medicinal uses
[11]
Material uses & Functions
[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Botanic
[16][17][18]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Canopy, Secondary canopy
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    deciduous
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    slow
    Mature Size
    12 x 10 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Wind
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    monoecious

    "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. ISBN 0889025649 (1989-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. ISBN 0292780206 (1982-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.3 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22642-5 (1970-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.111.211.3 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    12. ? Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.1 McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books ISBN 0-901361-21-6 (1985-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.1 Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. ()
    15. ? 15.015.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    16. ? 16.016.116.2 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    17. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)
    18. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

    "image:American Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Carpinus_caroliniana&oldid=75958"
    Facts about "Carpinus caroliniana"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyBetulaceae +
    Belongs to genusCarpinus +
    Has common nameAmerican Hornbeam +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partSeeds +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeWind +
    Has flowers of typeMonoecious +
    Has growth rateSlow +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageAmerican Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useWood +
    Has mature height12 +
    Has mature width10 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAstringent +
    Has primary imageAmerican Hornbeam Leaves 600.jpg +
    Has search namecarpinus caroliniana + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teheavy clayture preferenceHeavy clay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameCarpinus caroliniana +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheCanopy + and Secondary canopy +
    Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +