Carpinus Species, Common Hornbeam, European Hornbeam

This European Hornbeam is a handsome high quality small tree that has dark green leaves and smooth dark gray bark. Landscape architects u...Read Morese this species and its columnar cultivars occasionally in Midwestern and Eastern landscapes. It is more adaptable to harder landscape conditions than the American Hornbeam. The American species has lighter green foliage, light gray smooth bark, and a much better yellow to orange to red fall color. The European fall color is usually average yellow or yellow-brown.

Just saw an avenue of European Hornbeam trees growing at the Urban Tree Farm in Graton (zone 9) CA which is near Santa Rosa. They were b...Read Morearren (Dec) and their shapes are stunning at @ 30 ft each. In the process now of learning more about them but note that they grow here in zone 9.

This rarely needs pruning if grown as a tree. It tolerates pruning and shearing well, though, and with its dense branching it makes a gre...Read Moreat hedge. As a hedge, it retains its attractive brown foliage through the winter, especially if pruned in summer.

Adaptable, rarely troubled by pests or diseases, medium growth rate. In Europe, this is often used for hedges and for formal allees.

The cultivar 'Fastigiata' is usually all you'll find at the nursery---not truly fastigiate, but naturally upright and formal in habit. With age, it develops a shape like a wide inverted teardrop.

Hornbeam, European (Carpinus betulus) is low maintenance; keeps tall and slender shape, no pruning required.