Hornbeam
Carpinus spp.
Full Sun
Moderate care
Light watering
Frost Hardy
H7-H4
RHS hardiness
-20°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
|---|---|---|
30m | Max | 8m |
15m | Min | 4m |
30 years to reach maturity
Flowering
-
spring
-
summer
-
autumn
-
winter
More images of Hornbeam
Hornbeam Overview
Carpinus is a genus of hardy, deciduous trees, grown largely for their foliage, which exhibits attractive, bright yellow, orange and red autumn colour. The leaves are alternate and simple, with serrated edges, usually measuring 3-10cm long. Flowers are borne in catkins during spring and lead onto small fruits 3-6mm long, which differ in seed wing shape across species. There are over 40 species and they tend to be located in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Species in this genus are commonly termed hornbeams after the hardness of their wood.
Common problems with Hornbeam
How to propagate Hornbeam
Cuttings
Softwood cuttings may be taken in early summer.
Grafting
May be propagated through grafting in the winter.
Seed
Best sown outside as soon as ripe, in autumn, germination can take up to 18 months.
Budding
The cultivars by budding in late summer.
Special features of Hornbeam
Autumn colour
Other uses of Hornbeam
Grown for their foliage, autumn colour and clusters of small, winged nuts.