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Trees

Carpinus japonica 'Chinese Lantern'

Japanese hornbeam 'Chinese Lantern'

A medium-sized deciduous tree with grey bark, brownish-grey on the younger branches and reaching a height of around 8-10m (27-33ft). The foliage in spring emerges red and matures in summer to bright green. In autumn it turns to bright yellow. The yellow-green, male and female catkins are produced separately on the same tree in April. After fertilisation, the female flowers develop into hop-like clusters in late summer to autumn, containing winged seeds that disperse on the wind when ripe

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Plant nurseries
3 suppliers

Ultimate height

8–12 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Poorly–drained, Well–drained, Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Betulaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Carpinus are deciduous shrubs and trees with attractive foliage and hop-like fruit clusters in late summer and autumn
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in most soils after establishment including those which are dry or wet.

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring and early summer or grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to caterpillars and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, coral spot and sometimes honey fungus

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