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| The wood of the Hop Hornbeam is very hard and tough and the tree is sometimes called "Ironwood" (a name that is also used for a different tree Carpinus carolina - American Hornbeam). It is an attractive shade tree and readily adaptable to a number of environmental settings. This species is frequently found in bottomland forests or along river levees, but is also a common understory component of drier, upland woods. The bark tends to flake off in small plates giving the trunk a shreddy appearance. The matured fruits together resemble ripened hops, hence its name. Native from eastern US, west to MN and TX, south through FL. Fall color - pale yellow. |