Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
Last reviewed: October 2026
Musclewood is a small deciduous tree with smooth gray bark and drooping yellow green catkins that open in April and May. It grows well in part shade with medium moisture, often along stream banks and in moist woodland understories.
Toxicity unknown
Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Hornbeam as toxic to livestock.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
240"–360" H × 240"–360" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DE and 30 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles, butterflies
Before you buy
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American hornbeam is a small understory tree with distinctive smooth, gray bark that resembles flexed muscle. It produces small catkins in spring and develops attractive yellow to orange fall color, making it an excellent choice for smaller landscapes.
Growing Hornbeam
Grow Hornbeam in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 240 to 360 inches tall and spread 240 to 360 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Hornbeam is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
Wildlife value
Host plant for spring azure, white-marked tussock moth.
The spring flowers attract bees and beetles, while the small nutlets provide food for birds and squirrels. The tree also serves as a host plant for several native moth and butterfly species.
Common questions
- When does Musclewood bloom?
- Musclewood produces its small catkin flowers in April and May.
- What insects visit Musclewood flowers?
- Bees and beetles are the main visitors to the small flowers of Musclewood.
- How much light and water does Musclewood need?
- Musclewood does best in part shade with medium soil moisture, though it can tolerate conditions from full sun to fairly deep shade and from wetter to average soil moisture.
- What does Musclewood look like as it grows?
- It is typically a small to medium understory tree with smooth, muscle-like gray bark, often growing with a single or multiple trunks and a rounded crown.
- Is Hornbeam toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Hornbeam as toxic to livestock.
- Is Hornbeam HOA-friendly?
- Hornbeam is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Hornbeam? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.