Flowering TreesAmerican Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is a slow-growing flowering tree, hardy in USDA zones 3-9, that matures to about 20-35 ft × 20-35 ft. It does best in part shade and full shade with medium water needs in well-drained, moist and occasionally-wet soil. Expect yellow and green blooms in winter. It attracts butterflies, pollinators and small mammals, stands up well to black walnut, dry soil and fire.
- USDA zones
- 3-9
- Sun
- Part shade, Full shade
- Water
- Medium
- Mature size
- 20-35 ft × 20-35 ft
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally-wet
- Bloom color
- Yellow, Green
- Bloom season
- Winter
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Pollinators, Small mammals, Songbirds
- Tough against
- Black walnut, Dry soil, Fire, Wind, Pollution, Wet soil
- Native to
- Eastern North America
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — American Hornbeam is hardy to about -40°F (estimated from USDA zone 3), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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