American hornbeam has many names such as blue-beech and musclewood. This tree is native to North America and can be found throughout most temperate regions in the United States and Canada, and Mexico. In warmer South American regions Carpinus grow in higher mountainous terrains, often forming the canopy of cloud forests throughout Latin America. American hornbeam is a small tree usually 35-50 feet tall. It is distinguishable by its crooked trunk and smooth green- gray bark. 

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American hornbeam roots are shallow and expand horizontally. C. caroliniana thrive in damp forests with moderate soil fertility, and are very sensitive to heat and drought. They are common along water bodies. C. caroliniana are most likely to form the canopy when in wet mesic sites. American hornbeam can also grow in the under-story beneath canopies of silver maple, ash, sugar maple, hemlocks, and red maples. American hornbeam host more than 56 different lepodoptera larva species.