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Trees

Carpinus betulus 'Columnaris'

hornbeam 'Columnaris'

Small, columnar, deciduous tree, slow-growing to 8m tall, spire-like when young with densely-branched and leaved growth before maturing to form a more rounded crown. Its ribbed mid-green leaves turn yellow in autumn. Produces green catkins in late spring and clusters of winged fruit later in the year

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Plant nurseries
4 suppliers

Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

more than 50 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or North–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: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings or by grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens

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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