Family: Corylaceae
Common Name: Hornbeam

These small to medium trees and shrubs have smoothly fluted gray bark, alternate, toothed leaves, catkins of tiny, unisexual flowers and clusters of dry, winged fruits. They produce hard, fine-grained wood, which is very good for tools and joinery, and are also planted as hedges and specimens.

Species

C. betulus, common or European hornbeam, is a tree 10-15 m (33-50 ft) tall, but often pollarded, with beech-like buds and leaves, and a fluted, rough trunk. The leaves turn golden brown in autumn and remain through the winter, making it very attractive as a hedge. It does well in chalky soils. 'Columnaris' grows in a slender, pyramidal shape; 'Fastigiata' also with a pyramidal form, though broader than 'Columnaris', is useful for street planting; 'Incisa' has narrow, deeply tooth-edged leaves; 'Pendula' has drooping branches; and 'Purpurea' has purple young leaves.

C. caroliniana, American hornbeam or blue beech, grows slowly to under 12 m (40 ft). It has ovate, blue-green leaves which turn yellow in autumn.

Cultivation

Hornbeams like a cooler climate and do well in most soils. Propagate the species from seed sown in autumn, although this does not usually germinate until spring. Cultivars must be grafted or budded onto seedling stocks of C. betulus.

Climate

Zone 5.