Hornbeam tree identification

[603bonsai]

Found this growing in my woods and transplanted it into my yard thinking it was an ironwood. But, it’s been planted for nearly two years and has barely grown despite appearing otherwise very healthy. The leaves have remained extremely small.

I pretty certain it’s a hornbeam, but now think it may be an escaped exotic and not the native (New Hampshire-north east US) I thought it was and potentially may make an excellent bonsai subject.

Anyone able to ID this little guy for me?

 

[19Mateo83]

Are the leaves furry feeling? Is there little white specks on the bark? Pictures is a terminal bud will help also. I’m thinking it’s a hop hornbeam possibly

 

[mrcasey]

Hornbeam bark tends to be less brown and more gray. Also, I've never seen a hornbeam, even this young, with so many bud scars along the trunk. I'm fairly sure that this plant isn't Carpinus caroliniana.

 

[603bonsai]

Are the leaves furry feeling? Is there little white specks on the bark? Pictures is a terminal bud will help also. I’m thinking it’s a hop hornbeam possibly

Yes “furry” leaves, and yes white spots. Hop-hornbeam/ironwood was my first thought too but the bark doesn’t seem right and the leaves are very small.

 

[603bonsai]

Hornbeam bark tends to be less brown and more gray. Also, I've never seen a hornbeam, even this young, with so many bud scars along the trunk. I'm fairly sure that this plant isn't Carpinus caroliniana.

I agree. Although it does look a little like young Japanese hornbeam (based on internet photos—no firsthand experience with that tree).

Ill add to the mystery: cuttings smell like Birch. But I have a ton of yellow, river, and white birch saplings on my property and can readily identify them. This isn’t any birch I’m familiar with but it does have some birch sapling qualities.

 

[603bonsai]

Yes “furry” leaves, and yes white spots. Hop-hornbeam/ironwood was my first thought too but the bark doesn’t seem right and the leaves are very small.

I’ll get some winter bud pictures tomorrow and post them here. Maybe that will help.

 

[603bonsai]

I’ll get some winter bud pictures tomorrow and post them here. Maybe that will help.

 

[rockm]

Providing your location will go a very long way in IDing the tree. I don't think it's a hornbeam, BTW.

 

[603bonsai]

Providing your location will go a very long way in IDing the tree. I don't think it's a hornbeam, BTW.

New Hampshire. It’s in my original post. I think 19Mateo83 is probably correct that it’s a hop-hornbeam. Best match so far at least put still not 100% certain.

 

[rockm]

New Hampshire. It’s in my original post. I think 19Mateo83 is probably correct that it’s a hop-hornbeam. Best match so far at least put still not 100% certain.

You need to put that info in your avatar to the left.

Might be a hophornbeam, but leaves aren't really right IMO, neither is the bark...might also be a birch of some kind.

 

[603bonsai]

You need to put that info in your avatar to the left.

Might be a hophornbeam, but leaves aren't really right IMO, neither is the bark...might also be a birch of some kind.

Didn’t know I could ad location info. Thanks!

Doesn’t match any birch I know of, but cuttings do smell like a birch and it has birch look. Hornbeams and richness are closely related I believe. I also think it could be some kind of cherry except the cutting smell doesn’t lend itself to that conclusion.

Thanks for the input!

 

[GGB]

If it was a birch it would probably be betula lenta. They smell exactly like birch beer soda (because they flavor it) and they have the cherry looking bark. They don’t look like white birch or river birch so it’s a possibility

 

[GGB]

It’s also absolutely definitely not hornbeam (native) and I can’t rule out hop hornbeam but the bark doesn’t quite look like the ones growing near me, but that’s not conclusive. I’d be wildly surprised if there were Japanese hornbeam growing wild in a forest up north

 

[603bonsai]

It’s also absolutely definitely not hornbeam (native) and I can’t rule out hop hornbeam but the bark doesn’t quite look like the ones growing near me, but that’s not conclusive. I’d be wildly surprised if there were Japanese hornbeam growing wild in a forest up north

We cleared several acres about 10 years ago that the prior owner had planted with ornamentals and then left it unattended to for many years. I’m sure all kinds of stuff got worked into the soil. We’ve seen a bunch of weird things popup on the edge of the woods.

 

[GGB]

Ok one more, my sweet birch (betula lenta) pushes one flush in the summer. And my hop hornbeam grows continuously all season. So all signs tell me sweet birch (or whatever of the 10 common names is used up there)

 

[603bonsai]

It’s also absolutely definitely not hornbeam (native) and I can’t rule out hop hornbeam but the bark doesn’t quite look like the ones growing near me, but that’s not conclusive. I’d be wildly surprised if there were Japanese hornbeam growing wild in a forest up north

Hmm cherry/black/sweet birch seems like a possibility. Doesn’t look quite right but doesn’t look wrong either.

 

[GGB]

We cleared several acres about 10 years ago that the prior owner had planted with ornamentals and then left it unattended to for many years. I’m sure all kinds of stuff got worked into the soil. We’ve seen a bunch of weird things popup on the edge of the woods.

Well fair enough then. Anything is certainly possible. I have to say I’ve only ever seen Japanese hornbeam for sale twice in my life and both times it was at a bonsai nursery.

 

[603bonsai]

Some more pictures for those still playing at home. Thanks everyone for the input so far!

 

[GGB]

Hmm cherry/black/sweet birch seems like a possibility. Doesn’t look quite right but doesn’t look wrong either.

I’m very unfamiliar with prunus species so it could be one of those. I can only speak to what I know well

 

[603bonsai]

Well fair enough then. Anything is certainly possible. I have to say I’ve only ever seen Japanese hornbeam for sale twice in my life and both times it was at a bonsai nursery.

I’ve never seen it and I spend to much time at nurseries. Probably a good bet it’s not Japanese hornbeam. But it would be a lot cooler if it were!