• Carpinus caroliniana 'Wisonsin Red' (American hornbeam) mature tree
  • Carpinus caroliniana 'Wisonsin Red' (American hornbeam) bark
  • Carpinus caroliniana 'Wisonsin Red' (American hornbeam) sale size at The Old Dairy Nursery
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American hornbeam

Carpinus caroliniana 'Wisonsin Red'

Carpinus caroliniana 'Wisonsin Red'

$49.99 USD
$49.99 USD
Sale Sold out
Size
  • SPRING 2025 PRE-ORDER

PLEASE KNOW: Plants shipped in early spring will likely arrive in a dormant state.

Our plants overwinter outdoors where they follow the natural rhythms of the season. We never force our plants to break dormancy early. Admittedly, early-leaf-out is customer pleasing, but it is bad practice both for the long-term health of the plant and for the environment. Plants shipped in early spring will very likely not be in full leaf. We grow in a cold area (zone 5), which means that customers in warmer climates will likely receive plants behind their own garden schedule. Not to worry though, healthy plants catch up quickly. Read more about Our Sustainable Practices here.

Musclewood or American hornbeam 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. 'Wisconsin Red' is an excellent strain selected by a breeder in Wisconsin for its extraordinary red and orange fall colors.

Zones: 3 to 9
Family: Betulaceae
Type: Deciduous Tree
Height: 15 to 20 ft.
Spread: 10 to 15 ft.
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Conditions: Medium
Bloom Time: March
Bloom Color: Yellow (male) and green (female)
Native Range: most of the eastern United States

View full details
  • Carpinus caroliniana 'Wisonsin Red' (American hornbeam) mature tree
  • Carpinus caroliniana 'Wisonsin Red' (American hornbeam) bark
  • Carpinus caroliniana 'Wisonsin Red' (American hornbeam) sale size at The Old Dairy Nursery

  • Special Characteristics:

    • Clay tolerant
    • Juglone tolerant
    • Outstanding fall color
    • Winter interest
    • Beautiful bark


  • Image Credits:

    Images 1 (mature form) Sherief Saleh, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    Image 2 (trunk) Richard Webb, Bugwood.org, USA, CC BY 3.0 US, via Wikimedia Commons

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ordering information

PREORDERS

You may place your order anytime to reserve plants for spring 2025 shipment. 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 when we ship.

We will begin shipping plants as soon as plants begin to emerge from dormancy in spring. Woodies will likely begin shipping in April. Perennials will likely begin shipping in May. If ordering multiple varieties, we will hold until all plants are ready to ship together. If you would like to receive plants sooner please reach out.

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

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.

Read more about our shipping policies here.

NURSERY PICK-UP

Plants can be collected from the nursery Monday through Sunday from 10am-4pm in Spring, Summer, and Fall. We prefer 24 hour notice to get your order together and will email you when ready for collection.

If you place a SPRING 2025 PREORDER, we will contact you in spring when your plants are ready for collection. Woodies will likely become available for collection in April. Perennials will likely become available in May. If ordering multiple varieties, we will hold until all plants are ready to be collected together.

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.

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