Carpinus betulus

Carpinus betulus - the Common Hornbeam - makes an attractive medium-sized tree, reaching about 6m after 10 years in good conditions.

Green catkins are produced in the spring, eventually followed by winged seeds.

The green serrated ribbed leaves turn yellow in the autumn.

Although normally grown as a free-standing tree, the Common Hornbeam can be used for hedging, and is also a good subject for topiary and pleaching.

 

Carpinus betulus hornbeam for sale

All our pot-grown trees are grown for us to our specification by the Frank P Matthews nursery.

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

• 11-year bare-root tree £40.00
  Very large size (4m-7m after 10 years)
  

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• 22-year bare-root tree £49.00
  Very large size (4m-7m after 10 years)
  

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• 32-year pot-grown tree £71.95
  Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
  In a 12L pot
  Very large size (4m-7m after 10 years)
  

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How to grow

Carpinus betulus will grow in most soils including wet soils, or chalk. For best autumn leaf colours it should be planted in full sun.

Carpinus betulus characteristics

• Gardening skillBeginner
• AwardsRHS AGM (current) - 1993
• Attractive featuresAttractive barkAutumn foliage colour
• Height after 10 years3m-5m / 10ft-16ft
• SunlightPrefers full sun
• PruningPrune hard
• Growth rateAverage
• Site conditionsOccasional flooding
• Leaf colourGreen
• Leaf colour - autumnYellow
• BarkGrey
• Annual cycleDeciduous

What will it look like?

Illustrative example of a pot-grown tree of this variety as supplied. Approximate girth: 6/8cm. We try to keep all pot-grown trees down to about 1.5m as supplied, but some may be larger. Trees should reach their mature height after about 10 or more years. We may also have 1-year bare-root trees of this variety - they are not shown here.