This low, spreading tree is producing delicate male catkins in the Autumn Garden.
A native of eastern North America Ostyra virginiana (eastern hop hornbeam, or ironwood) is a resilient understorey tree which grows on dry, sandy forest slopes and rocky ridges. It is a slow-growing species which produces a rounded crown up to 15m in height and spread, and it can live for up to 300 years. The bark will develop flaking scales at an early stage, and the twigs are delicate and wiry in appearance. Reddish-brown, scaly male catkins 2-5 cm in length are produced in winter before the green, female catkins, which reach 7 cm in length, are produced in spring. The female catkins are followed by papery, hop-like clusters of fruit. The genus Ostyra belongs to the birch family (Betulaceae), and contains eight species from Europe, Asia and North America. As the common name for the genus ‘ironwood’ suggests the wood is particularly hard and strong, and the name Ostyra derives from the Classical Greek name for a tree with hard wood.