The fruits mature in autumn and drop in winter, leaving the axis attached to the tree. The leaf scars are small and half-round, with 3 bundle scars. The bark of the ironwood is smooth and gray or brown when young, becoming separated into vertical, spiraled rows of small, rectangular plates that are sometimes loose at both ends, producing a shreddy appearance. The ironwood is native to southern Canada and eastern, midwestern and south-eastern US, extending into northern Mexico. It is native throughout Iowa and is probably the most common woodland tree in the state.
Ironwoods grow in moist, fertile soils or in sandy soils, preferring well-drained slopes and ridges.
This species is a typical understory tree preferring shade, but also grows well in full sun, often invading uncultivated areas bordering woods. Although a variety of diseases occasionally attack this tree diseases and pests are seldom problematic. The wood is harder than that of any other Iowa native tree, stronger than that of white oak and second only to hickory in weight. The trees are too small to be used commercially, however. This wood was once used for mallets, levers, wedges, tool handles, ox yokes, wheels and axles.