Scientific Name
Ostrya virginiana ‘Autumn Treasure’
The hop hornbeam is very similar to the American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana). Both belong to the birch family (Betulaceae) and grow as understory trees in the forests of the eastern United States. They grow to medium size at maturity with the Colorado champions at 36 and 29 feet tall. The leaves of the two species are also similar, though hop hornbeam leaves are doubly serrated and less corrugated. The male flowers are a hanging catkin 1 to 2 inches long that is formed in the fall, waiting to disperse its pollen the following spring before the leaves emerge. The female flowers are in much smaller catkins that are usually not noticeable. There are some differences in fruit compared to the American hornbeam; it’s no surprise that this tree’s dangling fruit looks very much like hops with its closed bracts. A major distinguishing factor of hop hornbeam is its scaly flaky bark, whereas the American hornbeam’s bark remains smooth. The cultivar ‘Autumn Treasure’ was selected for its upright pyramidal growth habit, bright yellow fall foliage and little or no leaf retention through the winter.