loose-flower hornbeam (Carpinus laxiflora) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Loose-flower hornbeam is a deciduous tree native to Korea and Japan, grown in U.S. arboreta. Its leaves have long, narrow tips, and its hanging fruit clusters have widely spaced, leaflike parts.

Appearance

Appearance: The bark is gray and mostly smooth, sometimes with faint lengthwise ridges.
Growth form: A deciduous tree that can reach about 50 ft (15 m) in its native range.
Leaves: The leaves are about 1.5–3.5 in (4–9 cm) long, with double teeth and a long, narrow tip.
Fruit: Small, leaflike sit loosely along a hanging cluster, each with a tiny nut at its base.

Look-alikes

American hornbeamCarpinus caroliniana

Both have three-lobed fruit bracts. Loose-flower hornbeam has a longer, more drawn-out leaf tip and longer leaf stalks; check several leaves and fruit clusters before deciding.

Why they get mixed upThe two hornbeams have similarly toothed leaves and hanging fruit.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Mountain forests
Arboretum collections
Range: Native to Korea and Japan. It is also grown in collections in Oregon and Virginia.
Preferred conditions: It can grow in U.S. hardiness zone 6a.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms: Garden selections include 'Pendula' with drooping branches and 'Variegata' with cream-marked leaves.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: DDData DeficientNot enough data yet to assess

16 sources