The American Hophornbeam Tree is a deciduous cousin of the birch, and with proper soil and drainage, the American Hophornbeam grows up to 40 feet and adapts well to partial shade, and produce small nut clusters similar in appearance to "hops" used in beer brewing. The American Hophornbeam retains its leaves well into the winter, even after the spectacular golden color change, and provide a good source of food for wildlife, especially in the winter. The leaves of the American Hophornbeam Tree turn an orange-red color during the Fall, and along with the seeds, twigs and buds, are a valued food source for deer, turkeys, ducks and squirrels. The American Hophornbeam Tree is short generally only growing up to 30 ft. with one or more trunks, each 1 ft. wide, which is perfect for a small-yard.

The customary time to plant a new shade tree is on Arbor Day, however, the fall, winter, and spring months are always good times to establish a tree for shade during the sultry months of summer The shade provided by the American Hophornbeam can cool your home and save you money on energy. The American Hophornbeam tree provides food and shelter for wildlife in the winter, and as an under-story the American Hophornbeam Tree grows well beneath other larger trees and produces good shelter for a number of animals and serves as a host tree for birds' nests, and other wildlife in the winter.