Carpinus betulus
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Carpinus caucasica
- Carpinus compressus
- Carpinus nervata
- Carpinus sepium
- Carpinus ulmifolia
- Carpinus vulgaris
- Phonetic Spelling
- kar-PINE-us BET-yoo-lus
- Description
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European hornbeam or common hornbeam is a medium-sized ornamental deciduous tree in the Betulaceae (beech) family. The genus name, Carpinus, is Latin for "hornbeam." The species name, betulus, is Latin and means "birch or birch-like." The common name, European Hornbeam, is derived from "horn," meaning hard, "beam," meaning tree in Old English, and European signifying its place of origin.
It is popular as a shade tree for lawns or as an urban street tree and it grows quickly to 40 to 60 feet in height and 40 feet wide. The dense dark green leaves of summer, bright yellow leaves of fall, and smooth gray bark add beauty to the landscape year-round. This species has many cultivars that vary in habit or form.
This species prefers moist, well-drained, loamy, or sandy soil in full sun or partial shade. Their habit may be rounded, vase-shaped, or pyramidal. The branches may droop as the tree grows and require pruning. Heavy pruning is tolerated if the tree is to be used as a hedge. Propagation from seeds and stem cuttings has been reported as difficult. Grafting is perhaps the best option. This tree is not widely available commercially. The American hornbeam is available, but it is a smaller tree.
The leaves are dark green, ovate, and doubly serrated. The flowers are male and female catkins that appear in April and May before the foliage appears. The male catkins are 1.5 inches long and yellow. The female catkins are 3 inches long and green. It is pollinated by the wind. The fruit is a small hard brown nutlet with 3-lobed bracts and appears from September to October.
European hornbeam attracts small birds, and mammals serving as a source of food, shelter, nesting, and roosting. It also supports moth larvae making it an excellent addition to a pollinator or nighttime garden. This specimen is attractive and well-suited to urban conditions as an ornamental shade tree, street tree, or hedge. European hornbeam would be a welcome addition to any home lawn or recreational area.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems are known. Fungi may cause Leaf spots. Gray Squirrels may strip bark from the tree.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Lawn and Upper Drive Border
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Asplenifolia'
Deeply lobed leaves - 'Columnaris'
Narrow, dense growth habit - 'Columnar Nana'
Dwarf pyramidal tree - 'Fastigiata'
Dense, upright, and used as a screen due to its wind resistance - 'Fran's Fontaine'
Narrow habit for smaller landscapes - "Globosa'
Rounded growth habit - "Horizontalis'
Flat topped growth habit - "Incisa'
Small deeply toothed leaves - 'Pendula'
Weeping habit - 'Purpurea'
Purplish leaves - 'Pyramidalis'
Upright growth habit - 'Vienna Weeping'
Rare weeping tree shape
- 'Asplenifolia'
- 'Asplenifolia', 'Columnaris', 'Columnar Nana', 'Fastigiata', 'Fran's Fontaine', "Globosa', "Horizontalis', "Incisa', 'Pendula', 'Purpurea', 'Pyramidalis', 'Vienna Weeping'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Asplenifolia'
Deeply lobed leaves - 'Columnaris'
Narrow, dense growth habit - 'Columnar Nana'
Dwarf pyramidal tree - 'Fastigiata'
Dense, upright, and used as a screen due to its wind resistance - 'Fran's Fontaine'
Narrow habit for smaller landscapes - "Globosa'
Rounded growth habit - "Horizontalis'
Flat topped growth habit - "Incisa'
Small deeply toothed leaves - 'Pendula'
Weeping habit - 'Purpurea'
Purplish leaves - 'Pyramidalis'
Upright growth habit - 'Vienna Weeping'
Rare weeping tree shape
- 'Asplenifolia'
- 'Asplenifolia', 'Columnaris', 'Columnar Nana', 'Fastigiata', 'Fran's Fontaine', "Globosa', "Horizontalis', "Incisa', 'Pendula', 'Purpurea', 'Pyramidalis', 'Vienna Weeping'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Carpinus
- Species:
- betulus
- Family:
- Betulaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood of the European Hornbeam is very hard. The Romans used the wood from the tree to make chariots. It also served to make oxen yokes, chopping blocks, piano hammers, wood screws, coach wheels, and cogs for windmills and watermills. The wood also served as good firewood.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Iran
- Distribution:
- Native: Albania, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Russia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Poland, Romania, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Ukraine, and Yugoslavia; Introduced: Norway and NY
- Wildlife Value:
- The tree provides shelter, roosting, nesting, and foraging site for small birds and small mammals. Finches, titmouse, and small mammals eat the fruits in the fall. The caterpillars of many moth species feed on the leaves.
- Play Value:
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is an oval, dry, hard, brown nutlet, measuring less than 0.5 inches in diameter. The nutlet is on a serrated and folded bract. The bracts are clustered on a 3-inch stalk. The fruit is displayed in the fall, from September to October. They are not showy, but they attract small birds and mammals.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Male and female catkins appear in the spring before the foliage. The male catkins are 1.5 inches long and yellow, and the female catkins are 3 inches long and green. They are not showy or conspicuous.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are dark green, simple, alternate, ovate, and have doubly serrated margins. The veins give the leaf a quilted appearance. They measure 2-4 inches in length. In the fall, the leaf color transitions to a bright yellow.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- The bark is smooth, grayish-brown when the tree is young. It splits into shallow furrows. The trunk is distinctly fluted.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The twigs are thin and reddish-brown with lighter vertical lenticels. The buds are green and turn light brown in color. They measure 1/4 inch long and curl slightly around the twig.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Urban Conditions
