Plant · GBIF taxon 5332289
American Hophornbeam
Ostrya virginianaAlso known as Eastern Hophornbeam, Ironwood, Leverwood, Hardhack
American hophornbeam is a slow-growing understory tree celebrated for its exceptionally dense, resilient wood that earned it the moniker ironwood. Its dangling clusters of inflated, papery seed sacs strongly resemble beer hops, sheltering small nutlets that feed wintering songbirds and small mammals. Highly shade-tolerant, it thrives beneath the canopies of mature oak and maple forests across eastern North America.
DeciduousUnderstoryNative
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil Minerals
Predators
- White-tailed Deer
- Ruffed Grouse
- North American Beaver
ThreatsForest clearance, aggressive wildfire, severe drought
HabitatsDeciduous forests, rocky upland ridges, moist ravines, slope woodlands
Life span80–150 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderFagales
- FamilyBetulaceae
- GenusOstrya
- SpeciesOstrya virginiana
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Bark Identification: Look for distinctive, narrow vertical strips of shreddy bark that curl away at the ends like dry bacon.
- Fruiting Season: Search branches in late summer and early autumn for the distinctive hop-like clusters of pale green seed packets.
- Understory Scanning: Spot this tree beneath high forest canopies along rocky ridges where other trees struggle with poor soil.
Same Genus no rights reserved, uploaded by carquo · cc0
Herbivore (c) Alexis Godin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Godin · cc-by
Same Family (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Same Family (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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