Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens

Tree of the month series - this series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic Gardens is compiled by members of the Friends group and Gardens staff. The series will gradually build up to a comprehensive archive of information about the trees in Belfast Botanic gardens. Each article will illustrate the tree in Belfast together with information from a range of sources elsewhere. For each tree there is a map or link to a map showing the location in the gardens. Click here for the rest of the trees

Tree of the Month, May 2007

Eastern Hop Hornbeam, Ostrya virginiana

(also called American hophornbeam and ironwood)

These elegant trees have just been planted (spring 2007) in a avenue from the Embankment towards the Botanic Gardens gate as part of the refurbishments following the building work for the Queen's University Physical Education Centre extension.

The Eastern hop hornbeam (hophornbeam in USA) belongs to the birch family (Betulaceae) and has catkins in spring before the leaves open, that look similar to birch or alder catkins (as in photos above taken in April). These are the male flowers; the female flowers are like those of the hop (Humulus lupulus) - hence the name. The seeds are produced in late summer in whitish papery sack-like structures. The trees will eventually reach about 10m height and make an impressive avenue.