Why Plant American Hop Hornbeam?
If Hop Hornbeam were a dog, it would be a terrier: small, shaggy, friendly, sturdy, and tough. This chipper native tree will give a welcoming feel to your patio area, woodland garden, or backyard wildlife habitat. Tolerant of pollution and poor, dry soils, it also serves urban sites surprisingly well. Hop Hornbeam is a fine-textured tree with thin, Birch-like leaves that turn dull gold in the fall and light gray bark that peels and flakes. Though never overwhelming in its ornamental attributes, it's a thoroughly charming little tree. You'll find it easy to please and satisfying to have in your landscape.
Few people could identify Hop Hornbeam in the wild, though it grows over much of the Eastern U.S., from Minnesota to Texas and east until you reach the coastal pains. It exists as an understory tree in acidic woodland environments and has also found a niche on dry, rocky outcroppings in sunnier sites. Hop Hornbeam is also called Ironwood because of its densely grained wood; it's harder than Oak, Hickory, or even Persimmon. Settlers fashioned Hop Hornbeam into durable items like ax handles and sleigh runners, but you'll appreciate it for its strength in the landscape under the pressure of ice, snow, and wind.
How to use American Hop Hornbeam in the landscape?
The 'Hop' in Hop Hornbeam comes from the interesting seed cases, which look like the dangling fruits of the Hop Vine. Chickadees and titmice may come to feed on the seeds when they ripen. In rural areas, turkeys and grouse enjoy the seeds after they've fallen to the ground.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
How To Plant American Hop Hornbeam
Largely trouble-free and accommodating, Hop Hornbeam is a good tree for beginning gardeners and for challenging sites. Give it a spot in full sun or part shade in any kind of soil except those prone to wetness. One thing Hop Hornbeam is sensitive to is salt spray; it is not a good choice for coastal gardens.
How To Water
Water regularly the first year or two; after that, normal rainfall should suffice. American Hop Hornbeam will appreciate watering deeply, and regularly during its first few years in the ground. Irrigate weekly, and especially during long dry spells or extreme heat after it’s established.
How To Fertilize
When planting, it's best to use the Bower & Branch Elements Starter Plant Food. From there, you should fertilize each spring, before the tree breaks dormancy, to be sure your tree has all it needs for a healthy growing year!
How To Prune
Prune your American Hop Hornbeam in summer or fall to avoid the heavy 'bleeding' of sap that occurs in late winter. Bleeding isn't harmful to the tree, but may seem troubling to you!
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
