We proudly research, grow, and write about our plants by hand. Descriptions are based on our experience as well as information gathered from reputable sources: books, periodicals, and select websites. Should you have questions beyond what is listed please email or call.

Carpinus caroliniana | American hornbeam

Regular price: $8.99
Regular price
Sale price: $8.99

Shipping calculated at checkout.

Grown from seed in living soil without the use of pesticides, chemicals, or carbon fuels.

Available FALL 2026. Sign up for the waitlist to be notified when available for purchase.

Musclewood or American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is a relatively uncommon native tree that deserves more attention. It grows in just about any condition: full sun to shade, moist to dry, acidic to alkaline, however, it is native to the forest understory and does prefer a moist, shaded environment. This tough tree tolerates clay soil and black walnuts and is rarely bothered by pests or diseases.

Musclewood is so named for its distinctive fluted, smooth grey trunk which appears to be layered with muscle once mature.

This attractive globe-shaped tree bursts into life with male and female catkins in early spring. Fertilized female catkins become nutlets, which are much loved by birds. The crinkled, dark green leaves are quite attractive in summer, but the real show comes in fall.

We harvested these seeds from the trees that grow naturally in the rich, marshy woodland at the back of our property - truly NY native.

Zones: 3 to 9
Family: Betulaceae
Type: Deciduous Tree
Height: 15 to 25 ft.
Spread: 10 to 15 ft.
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Conditions: medium, moist but well-drained
Bloom Time: March
Bloom Color: yellow (male) and green (female)
Native Range: most of the eastern United States

4" pot

Special Characteristics

Clay tolerant
Black foliage
Outstanding fall color

image credits

Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nadiatalent, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sherief Saleh, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Ordering information

Preorders

You may place your order anytime to reserve plants for spring 2026 shipping. If you place multiple orders, we will combine plants into one box (or as many as needed) and any extra shipping charges will be refunded.

We will resume shipping plants as soon as plants are ready and temperatures are appropriate in our location and yours.

We will check in with you a week before shipping to make sure you receive your plants at a time that is convenient for you.

Shipping

Live plants ship in spring and fall only. Plants may ship dormant, depending on variety and season. Shipping costs are most reasonable when bundling like size plants.

4-inch: 1-6 plants ship for $15.00 / 7-13 plants ship for $18.00 / 14-30 plants ship for $40.00
1-gal: 1-2 plants ship for $18.00 / 3-4 plants ship for $25.00 / 5-6 plants ship for $40.00
trees & shrubs: $27.00-$40.00 each, height dependent
seeds: $6.75 or free with orders over $15.00

We regret that we cannot ship internationally or to the following states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, or WA.

Nursery pick up

We will email you to schedule a day and time to collect your plants when they are ready in spring. Generally, plants can be collected from the nursery Monday through Sunday from 10am-4pm in Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Plant Sizes

We most commonly use the following pot sizes for perennials:

4-inch pot: 3.5" H x 3.5" W x 3.5" D
2-quart pot: 6" H x 5.25" W x 5.25" D
1-gallon pot: 6.87" H x 8" Dia (this is a true one gallon pot, not the smaller 'trade' one gallon pot used by many nurseries)

Check out our illustrated pot size guide here.

Representative trees & shrubs are photographed in their pots and posted on each plant page.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at The Old Dairy. We grow all of our plants outdoors without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, carbon fuels, or peat.

Many of our perennials are grown in the ground and dug upon order (this is especially true for larger sizes). This practice allows us to grow stronger, healthier plants using native soil, and ultimately reduces our impact on the environment.

Our open-pollinated seeds are collected from plants in our mother beds, which have never been treated with chemicals or sprays of any kind.

Read all about our sustainable practices here.