A.k.a. ironwood, musclewood, and blue beech. A small tree notable for its sinuous silver bark and shade tolerance, it can be trained into a large multi-stemmed bush to further show off its bark. Small fall nuts hang in distinctive winged clusters as they mature and make for a unique texture. A shallow root system and preference for bottomlands make it a good choice to fill wet, shady corners or understory. A slow growing but long lived small tree.

Pollination: Likely self pollinating. 

Light: Part Sun/Shade, Shade

Soil Moisture: Wet, Wet Mesic, Mesic

Soil Type: Loam, Humus, Clay Loam, Sandy Loam

Height: 20’-35’

Width: 20’-35’

Bloom Color: -

Bloom Time: Feb

Fruit: Small nutlets in winged casings mature in the fall.

Fall Color: Yellow, Orange, Red

Root Type: Branching

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Hosts moths such as the eyed baileya, and a few plant bugs, leafhoppers, and other small insects. Fruiting bodies are eaten by birds such as wood ducks and bobwhite, and nutlets are eaten by small mammals. Occasionally browsed by rabbits and deer.

Notes: Also called musclewood for the sinuous shape of its smooth, silver trunks. Other common names are blue beech, water beech, and ironwood, the latter of which can also refer to several other trees. Wood is strong, purportedly takes a “horn-like” polish, and was historically used to make small tools. Can be trained as a large, multi-stemmed bush. A shallow, spreading root system makes it sensitive to drought and compaction.