Save 15% on all preorders of Native Plants until January 31st! 30% Off Shipping!
Save 15% on all preorders of Native Plants until January 31st! 30% Off Shipping!
Phonetic: OSS-tree-uh vir-jin-ee-AN-uh
Trees are unavailable for shipment
1 Gallon Pot-2-2.5'
Hophornbeam is a small to medium-sized tree that thrives in partial shade to full sun and prefers moderately moist soils, though it is adaptable to a range of conditions, including dry, rocky, or gravelly sites.
Hophornbeam blooms in spring, typically from April to May. It produces separate male and female catkins on the same tree: the male catkins form in late summer and persist through winter, releasing pollen in spring, while the female catkins develop at the twig tips. Pollination occurs by wind rather than insects. By late summer to early fall, the fertilized female catkins mature into clusters of bladder-like sacs that resemble hops—hence the name “hophornbeam.” Inside each sac is a small nutlet, which serves as food for wildlife through the fall and winter months.
Ecologically, Hophornbeam contributes significantly to the ecosystems. It is the host plant for the Red Spotted Purple and the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Its seeds provide food for birds such as grouse, pheasants, and various small mammals, while its dense branches and tough wood offer excellent nesting and cover habitat. Although it is wind-pollinated it indirectly benefits pollinators by contributing to forest structure, soil stability, and overall habitat diversity.
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