American Hop-hornbeam

Ostrya virginiana

Found in moist to dry forests, often rocky, especially over basic rocks, reaching high elevations. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

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Native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

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Height: 20–40 feet
Spread: 15 feet–30 feet 8 inches
Light: Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

Space about 23 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count

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Ostrya virginiana — fruit photograph — Eric Hunt · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original photograph

At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: March to May
Fruiting season: August to October

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Recorded in 25 Florida counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 2

Moist forests

Forests on moist but not wet ground, such as rich slopes and ravines.

Dry forests and woodlands

Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Florida. Shared habitat, not food. 91 animals.

Chuck-will's-widow
Caprimulgus carolinensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Common Myna
Acridotheres tristis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Downy Woodpecker
Picoides pubescens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Screech-owl
Megascops asio
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Wood-pewee
Contopus virens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eurasian Collared-dove
Streptopelia decaocto
Birds. 1 shared habitat
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Fish Crow
Corvus ossifragus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Regulus satrapa
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Great Crested Flycatcher
Myiarchus crinitus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Hairy Woodpecker
Picoides villosus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of Florida

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

83CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Ostrya

Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
Acronicta laetificaPleasant Dagger
Actias lunaLuna Moth
Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
Amorpha juglandisWalnut Sphinx
Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
Apatelodes torrefactaSpotted Apatelodes
Argyrotaenia alisellanaWhite-Spotted Leaf Roller

Show all 83

Automeris ioIo Moth
Baileya dormitansSleeping Baileya
Baileya ophthalmicaEyed Baileya
Cameraria hamadryadellaSolitary Oak Leafminer Moth
Cecrita biundataWavy-Lined Heterocampa
Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
Cenopis niveanaAproned Cenopis Moth
Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
Chionodes formosellaSpring Oak Leafroller
Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
Colocasia flavicornisYellowhorn, Saddled Yellowhorn
Dasychira tephraTephra Tussock Moth
Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
Endothenia hebesanaVerbena Bud Moth
Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
Eumarozia malachitanaSculptured Moth
Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
Heterogenea shurtleffiRed-Eyed Button Slug
Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
Hypena palpariaMottled Bomolocha, Variegated Snout
Hyperstrotia nana[White-Lined Graylet applied to Hyperstrotia villificans]
Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
Immyrla nigrovittellaBlack-Banded Immyrla
Isa textulaCrowned Slug
Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
Lambdina fervidariaCurve-Lined Looper Moth
Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
Lochmaeus manteoVariable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
Lomographa vestaliataWhite Spring Moth
Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
Natada nasoniNason's Slug Moth
Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
Oedemasia leptinoidesBlack-Blotched Schizura
Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
Panopoda carneicostaBrown Panopoda, Hickory Panopoda
Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
Phyllonorycter lucetiellaBasswood Miner, Basswood Squareblotch Miner
Pococera asperatellaMaple Webworm
Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
Psilocorsis reflexellaDotted Leaftier Moth
Pyreferra pettitiPettit's Sallow
Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
Smerinthus jamaicensisTwin-Spotted Sphinx
Stilbosis ostryaeellaIronwood Leafminer
Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
Tetracis crocallataYellow Slant-Line
Thalera pistasciariaPistachio Emerald
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
Zale minereaColorful Zale
Zale phaeocapnaHazel Zale
Acrobasis ostryella
Anacampsis argyrothamniella
Stigmella ostryaefoliella

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

0BeesSoutheastern regional records

0Specialist beesPollen specialists

3BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Ostrya

Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
Sturnus vulgarisEuropean Starling

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Betulaceae
Hardiness: Zones 3a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline
Flower color: Brown/copper, yellow or green
Growth rate: Slow
Growth habit: Single stem
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: August
Fruit ends: October

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “March to May” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Brown/copper, yellow or green” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “August” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Fruit ends · “October” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Growth habit · “Single stem” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Slow” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 3a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “20–40 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS, Minnesota Wildflowers differ)
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Deep shade (less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Virginia DCR Piedmont, Virginia DCR Coastal Plain differ)
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Virginia DCR Piedmont, Virginia DCR Coastal Plain differ)
Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “15 feet–30 feet 8 inches” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

American Hop hornbeam; Hop Hornbeam; Ironwood

Conservation status

Florida rank	S4?
Global rank	G5
FL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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American Hop-hornbeam

At a glance

Natural habitats

Also found with this plant

Who uses this plant?

Plant details

Conservation status

Will it fit your yard?

Sources

More Ostrya