American Hop-Hornbeam

Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K.Koch is a member of the Betulaceae family and is native to a wide range in eastern North America. It is found in regions including Nova Scotia, southern Manitoba, and extends southeast to northern Florida and southwest to eastern Texas. The species is also present in parts of Mexico and Central America, where some taxonomists distinguish it as Ostrya guatemalensis. Common names for this tree include eastern hophornbeam, hardhack, ironwood, and leverwood. The species was first described in 1873 and is distributed across multiple U.S. states and Canadian provinces, as well as globally in certain regions.