Acer carpinifolium
Hornbeam Maple
Aceraceae
ExpandHabitat
- native to Japan
- zone 5
Habit and Form
- probably an understory tree in native haunts
- deciduous, small tree, 20' to 25' in landscapes
- vase-shaped, oval or eventually rounded
- often multistemmed
Summer Foliage
- opposite, unlobed 3" to 5" long leaves
- leaves are atypical for maple and resemble those of Carpinus caroliniana
- dark green, slight bronze color on emerging leaves
Autumn Foliage
- bronze, gold or brown
- leaves may persist into winter
Flowers
- greenish, in May
- short racemes
Fruit
- samaras, around 0.75" long
Bark
- smooth and gray
Culture
- prefers moist, well-drained soil
- full sun to partial shade, but trees in full sun grow more vigorously
Landscape Uses
- small lawn tree or patio plant
- specimen
- woods edge
Liabilities
- rare, will be difficult to locate in commerce
ID Features
- unique, hornbeam-shaped leaves lacking typical "maple lobes"
- can be distinguished from Carpinus because leaves are opposite on maples
Propagation
- probably seed
- reported to root from August cuttings
Cultivars/Varieties
- none