Bigleaf Hornbeam Carpinus cordata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Distegocarpus cordatus
- Phonetic Spelling
- kar-PINE-us kor-DAY-tah
- Description
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Bigleaf Hornbeam or Heartleaf Hornbeam is a small to medium-sized, densely branched, slow-growing, deciduous tree. The tree grows to a height of 20 to 30 feet tall and 12-15 feet wide. In its native habitat, Bigleaf Hornbeam may reach 50 feet in height. The tree is frequently used as an understory tree because it thrives in shade. Tolerant of hard pruning, this tree may be used as a hedge or screen. The dense heart-shaped leaves and dark gray bark can be appreciated in any shaded woodland garden. The tree is a member of the Betulaceae or Birch Family.
Bigleaf Hornbeam is native to Japan, Korea, China, and Russia. It is typically found in forests and mountain slopes.
The genus name, Carpinus, is Latin for "hornbeam." The species name, cordata, references its heart-shaped leaves. The common name, Hornbeam, is derived from "horn," meaning hard, and "beam," meaning tree in Old English.
This species prefers moist, well-drained, and organically rich soils. The tree will tolerate full sun, but it thrives in part shade. It has a rounded habit, but it will tolerate pruning for use as a screen or hedge.
The leaves are large, dark green, and heart-shaped with doubly serrated margins. The flowers are greenish male and female catkins that are present from May to June. The female catkins produce oblong cigar-shaped nutlets that are seen from July to August.
The wood from the tree is used for making furniture and farming tools.
Bigleaf Hornbeam is an attractive low-maintenance understory tree.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems though cankers, leaf spots and twig blight occasionally occur.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Carpinus
- Species:
- cordata
- Family:
- Betulaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The tree wood is used for making furniture and agricultural tools.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan, northeastern China, Korea and Russia
- Distribution:
- Native: China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Inner Mongolia, Japan, Korea, Manchuria, and Primorye
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The female catkin produces an oblong nutlet. The fruit is a showy 3-5 inch long, cigar-shaped seedpod. The fruits are displayed from July to August.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Greenish male and female catkins appear from May to June. The male catkin is 1-2 inches long. The female catkin is 3-5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are dark green and measure 2.5 to 5.5 inches long and 1.5 to 3.25 inches wide. They are cordate at the base and have tapered points. They are hairy along the upper surface midrib and on the undersides. The margins are doubly toothed. The foliage has no insignificant color change in the fall.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Furrowed
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- The bark is gray to black-gray and scaly fissured.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The branches are brown or yellowish-brown and smooth. The young branches may be smooth or densely pubescent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Street Tree
- Understory Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
