Common Hornbeam
Carpinus betulus · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Betulaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree / Ornamental / Hedging Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Standard species (possibly 'Fastigiata' if maintained in a narrow form)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8; extremely hardy and tolerant of urban pollution and wind.
About This Tree
A medium-sized tree known for its dense, leafy canopy and fluted, muscular trunk. It often has a rounded or pyramidal crown when mature. It has a moderate growth rate and is frequently used for formal hedging (pleaching) because it responds exceptionally well to pruning.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, ovate leaves with prominent parallel veins and sharply double-serrated margins. They are dark green in summer and turn yellow to orange-brown in autumn, often marcescent (staying on the tree) when young or pruned.
Bark Characteristics
Very distinctive smooth, grey, steel-like bark that develops a fluted, muscular Appearance (resembling a flexed muscle) with age.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Western Asia and Europe, including southern Britain and France (where stone architecture like the one pictured is common).
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring with bright green foliage; produces catkins in spring; fruits in late summer as winged nutlets; enters dormancy in late autumn.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well-drained loamy soils but is notably tolerant of heavy clay and occasional flooding.
Mature Size
Height: 40-60 feet (12-18 meters); Spread: 30-40 feet (9-12 meters) at maturity. Long-lived tree can live over 200 years.
Special Characteristics
Extremely hard, dense timber historically used for tool handles and ox-yokes. Highly resistant to most pests and diseases. Excellent fall color and decorative fruiting bracts.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides food for several moth caterpillar species and small mammals that eat the nutlets (seeds). Heavily used by birds for nesting due to the dense branching structure.