American Hornbeam

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?

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Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for American Hornbeam in your home

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!

How to Grow American Hornbeam →

Benefits of Growing American Hornbeam →

Common American Hornbeam Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for American Hornbeam →

💦 Water Needs

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.

American Hornbeam Water Frequency →

American Hornbeam Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

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 🏡.

American Hornbeam Light Requirements →

American Hornbeam Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

American Hornbeam is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

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!

Best Soil Mix for American Hornbeam →

Best Pots for American Hornbeam →

When and How to Successfully Repot American Hornbeam →

What Are Healthy American Hornbeam Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

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!

How Much and When to Fertilize American Hornbeam →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

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

American Hornbeam Lifecycle →

American Hornbeam Size Guide →

How and When to Prune American Hornbeam →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

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

American Hornbeam Temperature Tolerance →

American Hornbeam Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with American Hornbeam →

When to Plant American Hornbeam →

How to Plant American Hornbeam →

Where to Plant American Hornbeam →

Winter Care for American Hornbeam →

Best Companion Plants for American Hornbeam →

Is American Hornbeam a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in American Hornbeam, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.