SafePlants

Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

Hornbeam, scientifically known as Carpinus betulus, is a deciduous broadleaf tree prized for its attractive foliage and resilience. It's a popular choice for hedging and ornamental planting.

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions hop-like fruit clusters, which could be a potential point of interest for pets.

Considerations for Children

• The tree produces catkins from late spring to autumn.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Carpinus betulus
• Common Name: Hornbeam
• Family: Betulaceae (birch, hazel, and alder family)
• While some botanists previously placed hornbeams in the Corylaceae family (with hazels and hop-hornbeams), modern botanists classify them within the birch subfamily Coryloideae.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the south of the UK, but widely planted elsewhere.
• Often found on clay soils.
• Will grow well in full sun or shade and tolerates damp or wet soils, including temporary waterlogging.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Deciduous shrub or tree.
• Develops a fluted grey trunk.
• Has mid-green leaves that turn copper in autumn. The leaves often remain on the bare branches throughout the winter, making it a useful hedging plant.
• When grown as a tree, it has a pyramidal shape that later becomes more rounded.

Propagation

• Propagated by seed, softwood cuttings, or by grafting.

Quirky Facts

• Despite being associated with coppicing and pollarding, Hornbeam is described as a "relative newcomer" to these practices in some regions.
• The text suggests that hornbeam wood, while abundant, is "too hard for general timber uses."