Hophornbeam, Knowlton
Ostrya knowltonii
Betulaceae - Birch
Description
Leaves: Alternate; simple; oblong-ovate; 1" to 2" long; deciduous; 5-8 pairs of veins; sharply, doubly serrate margin; acuminate apex; thin; tough; dark green above; paler and somewhat hairy beneath; yellow fall color; petiole short, hairy.
Twigs/buds: Twigs slender; red-brown to dark brown. No terminal bud; lateral buds pointed, scales with green bases and brown tips.
Flowers/fruit: Monoecious. Fruit a small nutlet; enclosed in an oval, flattened, papery sac; sacs arranged in cone-like clusters, with the appearance of hops.
Bark: Thin; gray-brown; with small, shreddy plates.
Wood: Extremely hard, so often called "ironwood"; resembles hickory; diffuse-porous; little used.
General: Native to southeastern Utah, northern Arizona, southeastern New Mexico, and west Texas. Slow growing, small tree. Uncommon and found in canyons. Shade tolerant.
Landscape Use: Essentially unknown in cultivated landscapes. No cultivars available and may be difficult to find in any nursery, but could be grown from seed or dug from public land with a permit. Might be a possibility for "native" landscapes. Zones 6(5?)-9.
Characteristics
General
Family | Betulaceae - Birch |
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Cultivar Availability | No |
Hardiness Zone | 6-9 |
Type | Broadleaf |
Utah Native | Yes |
Growth
Growth Rate | Low |
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Mature Height | Medium |
Longevity | High |
Is Good Under Power Lines | No |
Crown Shapes | Irregular |
Ornamental
Bark | No |
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Fall Color | No |
Flowers | Yes |
Foliage | Yes |
Fruit | Yes |
Tolerance
Shade | High |
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Salt | Medium |
Drought | High |
Poor Drainage | Low |
Alkalinity | High |
Transplanting | Medium |