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Carpinus betulus

European Hornbeam

Pronunciation
car-PINE-us
Family
Genus
Nativity

Europe, Asia Minor, s.e. of England

Growth Habit

Pyramidal to rounded in youth, oval-rounded when mature.

Hardiness
5
Culture

Prefer full sun, will tolerate part shade. It has a wide range tolerance of soil: light to heavy, acid to alkaline, prefer well drained soil.

Landscape Use

Screens, or hedge grouping.

Foliage

Alternate, simple, 2.5 to 5 inches long, 1 to 2 inches wide, ovate to ovate-oblong shape foliage, apex is short pointed, sharply doubly serrate margin, base cordate.

Buds

Buds are imbricate angular- conical, brownish to reddish, scale with soft pubescence, .25 to .33 inches long.

Bark

Smooth, steel gray, fluted.

Flower

Monoecious. Male: invisible, the male catkins 1.5 inches long, female catkins about 1.5 to 3 inches long. April.

Fruit

Net ribbed .25 inches long, mature about September to October.

Propagation

Grafting. By seeds and cuttings difficult but possible.

Pests
None serious.
Cultivars

'Asplenifolia' - Toothed, lobed leaves.

'Columnaris' - Columnar.

'Fastigiata' - Densely branched, oval-vase habit.

'Pendula' -Weeping.

'Purpurea' - Purple new foliage.

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