Ostrya virginiana - (Eastern) Hophornbeam Fact Sheet

Family:  Betulaceae - Birch family
Latin name:  Ostrya virginiana
Common name:  (Eastern) Hophornbeam

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood winter identification whole tree

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood fall identification whole tree

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood winter identification multiple trunks

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood winter identification cat scratch bark

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood winter identification catkins on tree, most in groups of 3

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood winter identification catkins on tree, most in groups of 3 closeup

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood, ballooning male flowers (catkins) in spring

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood, new leaves in spring

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood, leaves, buds, twigs in fall

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood, buds, twigs in fall

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood, fruit in summer

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood, fruit in fall

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood, leaves in fall

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood, leaves in summer

Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood, leaf and bud in late summer shows hair on twigs and petiole

Winter identification of Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood, buds and remaining petioles in February.

Late fall identification of Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam, Ironwood. Most of the hop-like fruit is gone in this late October photo of twigs, buds, fruit and attachment points on petiole.

Habit:
Bark:
forms vertical or "twisted" strips which loosen at the ends

strips may look like very long cat scratches

variation in bark color in these photos is probably more influenced by lighting conditions than actual colors of the bark

bark and trunk features are ornamentally attractive, especially in the winter and on trees with multiple trunk
Leaves:
simple deciduous leaves

2 - 5 inches long and about half as wide

alternate leaf arrangement

more or less oval shape

acuminate leaf tip

doubly serrate leaf margins

summer foliage - medium to dark green leaves

fall foliage - yellow, orange, brown
Flowers:
male and female flowers borne on separate catkins on same tree

male flowers

catkins in groups of 3
located at the ends of twigs
    develop in the fall, remain on the tree during the winter

    large numbers and consistent groups of 3 add winter interestcatkins "balloon" In spring

    pollen forms, matures, and is shed in spring

female flowers

    pistillate catkins first appear with the beginning of leaf development, and full bloom occurs about a month later.

    look for flowering to occur between late March and mid April in the Midwest
Fruit:
small papery inflated sacs in clusters

each sac contains a hard nutlet

fruit changes from green to tan
Twigs:
Alternate names: Eastern hophornbeam, ironwood

Family: Betulaceae - birch family
Latin name: Ostrya virginiana
Common name: Eastern hophornbeam, Ironwood

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