Description
Carpinus betulus – hornbeam
Quality: 1/0 P 15-30
Short description: The hornbeam is one of the most versatile native woody species – equally valuable as a hedge plant, topiary, specimen tree or forest tree. After drying in autumn, its leaves remain on the branches for a long time in shades of brown – providing valuable privacy screening even in winter. In spring it leafs out a fresh yellow-green; in autumn it glows yellow and orange. It tolerates pruning like hardly any other native deciduous tree.
Climatic characteristics & site conditions: The hornbeam is native throughout southern Germany and is exceptionally site-tolerant – from the Rhine Plain to mountain locations above 800 m, on acidic as well as calcareous soils, on fresh to moderately dry soils. During prolonged dry periods it shows drought stress on shallow soils, but remains more robust than many other deciduous trees. It does not tolerate waterlogging in the long term. Winter-hardy and tolerant of late frosts.
Advantages: Native and ecologically valuable, excellent as a hedge plant and topiary, attractive winter foliage, tolerates pruning, adaptable to many soils, affordable.
Disadvantages: As a hedge plant, regular pruning is required; increasingly susceptible on extremely dry sites; no long-term waterlogging; as a specimen less spectacular than other deciduous trees; requires a lot of space as a tree.
