The hardy tree copes well with various urban conditions, like pollution and compacted soils. Ironwood is an excellent tree to grow in urban and residential landscapes. In the landscape, ironwood has a rounded canopy and slender, rough trunk. The ironwood tree performs well in various moisture and soil conditions but grows best in well-drained soil in part sun. Ironwood tree is an attractive shade-tolerant tree, making it ideal for growing as an understory tree. Ironwood is a relatively small tree in a landscape compared to birch and elm trees. The identifiable features of the ironwood tree are its light green, pointed, lance-shaped leaves with doubly-serrated margins, dangling copper-brown colored hop-like fruits, and light to dark brown shaggy, narrow strips of bark. The seed clusters develop in summer and persist on the tree through winter. The pendulous clusters of papery enclosures grow between 1” and 2” (25 to 50 mm) long. The ironwood tree is identified by its hop-like fruit - clusters of seed-bearing pods of papery sacs, each containing a tiny, oval nutlet. However, ironwood trees are significantly smaller than elm and birch trees. Additionally, its spreading pyramidal to oval shape gives it the appearance of elm trees. Its leaves are lance-shaped with serrated margins like birch trees. It is also sometimes referred to as leverwood or hardhack.īeing a member of the birch family Betulaceae, the ironwood tree shares characteristics of birch and elm trees. For example, the names American hophornbeam and wooly hop hornbeam refer to the hop-like fruit that the tree produces after flowering. Other common names for ironwood tree refer to the tree’s strength or growth features. Because of this, the wood is used for making tool handles, fence posts, and mallets. It’s harder than maple, white oak, hickory, elm, and birch trees. Ironwood has one of the hardest woods of all the native North American trees. The slow growth of ironwood trees is why the timber is so robust. Immature trees have somewhat fuzzy branches that become smoother and gray as the tree matures. As long as the soil is well-drained and not prone to flooding, ironwoods grow well in most soils.Īn attractive feature of ironwood trees is their horizontal, drooping branches covered in serrated, ovate leaves. The cold-hardy tree performs well in all growing conditions - from deep shade to full sun. Ironwood trees thrive in USDA zones 3 to 9. Young ironwoods have a typical pyramidal shape that gradually becomes more oval and rounded as it matures. It will take 15 years to grow 10 to 15 ft. Ironwood trees grow slowly, averaging around 12” (30 cm) or less per year. It has a trunk diameter of up to 10” (25 cm), covered in peeling, shaggy bark. Ironwood is classed as a small to medium-sized ornamental tree belonging to the genus Ostrya in the birch family Betulaceae. Ironwood Tree ( Ostrya virginiana ) Facts If you decide this tree is perfect for your garden landscape, there is a handy care guide at the end of the article. Descriptions and pictures of ironwood leaves, bark, flowers, and fruit will help you identify it in the landscape. This article is a complete identification guide to the ironwood tree. The attractive cold-hardy tree grows well on sloped areas, as well as rocky forests, compacted clay soil, and is relatively resistant to drought. As an understory tree, the ironwood performs well in deeply shaded conditions, and it also grows just as well in full sun.Īlso called the American Hop Hornbeam, the ironwood is known for its incredibly robust, strong timber resulting from its slow growth. Ironwood trees are attractive in the landscape with a pyramidal, rounded crown and their ability to grow in almost any location. It is identified by its birch-like leaves, light brown shaggy bark, and yellowish-green flower clusters. The ironwood tree ( Ostrya virginiana ) is a small deciduous understory tree. Share on Email Share on Pinterest Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
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