Melinda Myers

Musclewood

Botanical Name

Carpinus caroliniana

Hardiness

Zones 3b to 9

Height

20 to 30 feet

Width

20 to 30 feet

Flowers

April: female flowers are 4 inches long and attached to a 3 lobed bract, male flowers are catkins

Fruit

Small seed-like nutlet enclosed in by a 3-lobed bract, numerous nutlets held on a pendulous cluster

Fall Color

Yellow, orange, red and reddish-purple

Light

Sun to shade

Soil

Moist, rich

Planting & Care

• Transplant as balled and burlap or container in spring
• Slow to establish
• Prefers shade

Problems

Does not transplant well, 2-line chestnut borer, dieback, canker

Varieties

• Firespire - narrow, upright, 20' x 10', good red-orange fall color
• Native Flame - upright habit, 30' x 20', bright red fall color
• J.N. Strain - upright form with orange-red fall color
• Palisade - upright oval form, 20 - 30' tall by 15 - 20' tall, yellow-orange fall color