The American Hornbeam is a great plant for wildlife improvement. Deer will browse this tree but it is not preferred. This is a key to its success as a wildlife improvement plant. If you plant a small apple tree and it grows backwards, what have you accomplished? The Hornbean is going to make it. That's a great consideration when establishing or imporoving a wildlife habitat. American Hornbeam is an important food of gray squirrels. Hornbaeams are important sources for other small game animals such as grouse and turkeys. Its branching attracts many song birds for it makes great cover. Rabbits and beavers also like it stems.



Native Range:

American hornbeam is native to much of the eastern United States. This plant can stand a wide variety of soil conditions. Wet soils can be used but not bog like in wetness. The roots do need to dry out so they don't rot. The water table where this plant is located may have a high fluctuating water table. A good loam on the surface helps this plant greatly. This plant can take some flooding. American Hornbeam is typically an understory species and rarely occurs in the overstory or dominates a stand. Thus, plant this with other companion plants and increase the diversity of your habitat. This will greatly improve the quality of your habitat. I suggest these companion plants with the Hornbeam: Black Cherry, Sugar Maple, White Oak, Black Oak, Northern , Red Oak, River Birch, Sycamore, Pin Oak, and Sweetgum.

If you are establishing a large stand you will want to buy seedlings and smaller plants. These available usually in the spring. We do recommend trees 10-15' in height which we are balled and burlapped throughout the season.