Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch Eastern Hop Hombeam or Ironwood Native to eastern N. America, where it yields a very hard timber used for making mallets and fence posts amongst other things. Sometimes cultivated for ornament in European gardens and collections. Height 9-18m (30-60ft). Flowers open in April, male catkins about 5cm (2in) long, females often red among the emerging leaves. Fruit clusters are about 3.7-5cm (1½-2in) long on hairy and longer stalks than O. carpinifolia. They turn light brown in autumn. Leaves are hairy on upper surface and more downy beneath with hairy stalks.
Z4.