Wooly Hop hornbeam Ostrya virginiana

Ostrya virginiana, or Hop Hornbeam, is a small and slender deciduous tree with a generally rounded top that may grow 20 to 35 feet tall and 7 to 10 inches in diameter, although some specimens can reach 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 2 feet. It is naturally found in dry, rocky forests. The leaves are alternate with a doubly toothed margin and fuzzy stem. The bark is smooth and reddish brown with horizontal lenticels in young trees. As the tree ages, the bark develops small plates and loose scales. In spring, yellow green, male and female slim, cylindrical flowers mature in clusters of 3. The small tree produces a small, ribbed nutlet.

A native deciduous shade tree (with a canopy spread of 20 to 30 feet) in the Betulaceae family, it gets its common name from the hardness of its wood and the hop-like fruit. It is commonly found scattered among the upland and mountain regions of North Carolina, although some larger specimens are found in deep, well-drained soils in mixed stands of bottom land hardwood. The leaves look similar to and can be confused with birch trees, and its overall form can sometimes be confused with an elm tree.  It has shaggy bark that provides winter interest and a row of Eastern hop hornbeam can be pruned to create an interesting hedge. 

It is easy to grow and succeeds in most soils, although it thrives in any good loam. It does not demand much light and prefers a deep open loam. A rather slow-growing tree, Eastern hop hornbeam is a small to medium understory tree. It tolerates drought and heavy clay soils making it low maintenance and appropriate for urban settings.  Plant in a lawn, along a driveway, street, or in a woodland garden. Note that the tree does not tolerate salt and would not do well in a seaside environment.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Pest Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems although gypsy moths can be a problem.