How much sunlight does my American Hornbeam need?

American Hornbeam requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

What type of soil should I use for my American Hornbeam?

American Hornbeam does best in well-draining soil . A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Should I fertilize my American Hornbeam?

American Hornbeam grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer . Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

What is the growth pattern for American Hornbeam?

American Hornbeam is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

Can American Hornbeam be grown outdoors?

USDA Hardiness Zone American Hornbeam can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-9b . Find your local hardiness zone here .

American Hornbeam

Q: Is American Hornbeam easy to care for?

American Hornbeam is generally easy to care for , though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Q: How often should I water my American Hornbeam?

American Hornbeam prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly . Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

About American Hornbeam

American Hornbeam is a deciduous tree that can grow 30 feet tall. It can be found naturally in areas with moist soil including streambanks, riverbanks, and maritime forests. The leaves alternate with a doubly toothed margin and the bark is smooth, gray to bluish-gray. The extremely hard wood of this tree will take a horn-like polish and was used by early Americans to make bowls, tool handles and ox yokes. Commercial use of hornbeam wood is not practical due to the limited amount of wood per tree.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Carpinus caroliniana

Genus

Carpinus

Family

Betulaceae

Order

Fagales

Also known as

American hornbeam, blue-beech and musclewood

How to care for American Hornbeam

Water

How often to water your American Hornbeam

American Hornbeam needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

Light

Check the growing potential in your area

A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for American Hornbeam in your home

Light needs and placement for plant American Hornbeam: 1ft from a window

American Hornbeam love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

American Hornbeam does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of American Hornbeam in your home 🏡.

Nutrients

How to fertilize American Hornbeam

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for American Hornbeam: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your American Hornbeam after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

FAQs

Difficulty Level

American Hornbeam is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Water Needs

Sunlight Needs

Toxicity

Soil

Fertilizer

Growth Pattern

Growing Outdoors