European hornbeams, being lovely shade trees, are suitable for groupings around large buildings.Don’t you feel that European hornbeams make an ideal picnic spot or would make a lovely place to relax, laze around, and read a book?The common names of Carpinus betulus are European hornbeam, common hornbeam, or simply, hornbeam, and they belong to the Betulaceae birch family. Carpinus is Latin for hornbeam and betulus means birch-like, since this tree looks similar to a birch tree.The usual names of trees in the Carpinus genus-hornbeam-relates to the tree’s characteristics and hardness of the wood. For instance, hornbeam timber is as hard as the horn, and beam is an Old English term for a tree. The related hop-hornbeam is a different genus of the birch family.Hornbeam was also called Yoke elm. The name Hornbeam refers to horn-like, dense wood, which is used to make beams and ox-yokes. Deciduous hornbeams are flowering hard wood trees. A popular ornamental tree used in hedges, the Carpinus betulus covered walks of old world gardens and are pruned into attractive shapes. The parks and gardens throughout northwest Europe have an abundance of this tree as well.Classification Of European Hornbeam TreesAmong the 41 species of hornbeams, some are native to North America and some are found within Europe.Hornbeam trees are of the genus Carpinus, and the other common species of hornbeam trees, apart from the European hornbeam, is the American hornbeam.The American hornbeam, also known as water beech and blue beech (for its blue-gray bark), seldom grows to 39 ft (12 m) tall. The smooth trunk has a sinewy or muscular appearance and divides into slender, slightly pendulous branches.The egg-shaped, bronze-green leaves, which are about four inches (10 cm) long, are white-haired at the time of unfolding, blue-green at maturity, and a scarlet or orange-yellow in autumn.The flowers of the American hornbeam are dangling catkins of green and orange or reddish-brown color that bloom from April.The hard, heavy wood of the American hornbeams also gives it the name ironwood.For ornamental purposes, the European hornbeam is more popular than the American hornbeam.These small, slow-growing landscaping trees are hardier in colder climates. Unlike the other hornbeam trees, the American hornbeam thrives in full shade.The European hornbeam is columnar and has a pyramidal shape, with a short trunk, low branches, densely growing dark green foliage, and columnar habit. This hornbeam grows as tall as 30-40 ft (9-12 m), with a narrow habit of 15-20 ft (4.5-6 m) wide.Also known as the pyramidal European hornbeam, the columnar hornbeam tree has a smooth, light gray bark with brown patches. With maturation, the bark becomes slightly furrowed, similar to the bark of the Carpinus betulus.The pyramidal European hornbeam grows catkins that bloom into whitish flowers in late spring. These concealed flowers droop from the ends of upward growing branches and bloom into the hornbeam fruit.In the fall, the columnar hornbeam foliage turns a showy, bright yellow color.Heartleaf hornbeam is an Asian species that is about 49 ft (15 m) tall, with leaves the shape of hearts as long as six in (15 cm).The Japanese hornbeam has light, reddish-brown downy leaves at the time of unfolding, that don’t create a mess, as they can be cleared with ease. This is the smallest hornbeam variety and can fit into tiny yards and under power lines as well.The Korean hornbeam, which is comparatively small, grows to 30 ft (9 m) tall, with slender leaves that are shaped like eggs.Habitat Of European Hornbeam TreesWhile European hornbeam trees are found as the dominant species in southeast England and western France, they’re also found in Europe and parts of Asia.Only two species occur in Europe, while the greatest number of the 30-40 species are mainly found in East Asia and most of the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. These trees usually grow in sandy woods.Many significant forests including Epping Forest in Essex, UK, and Halltorp Nature Reserve in Sweden have the Carpinus betulus as a dominant species.Typically, adequate growth of these trees requires a warmer climate and is usually found at elevations of 3,281 ft (1,000 m) or less. These trees grow well with average clay content soils while avoiding extremely high or low clay content soils.Hornbeams also grow alongside oak, or beech trees, and are commonly found in mountain-side forests with rubble lands.Carpinus betulus prefers extremely sunny or partially shady conditions, moderate moisture, and fertility of the soil. This tree is relatively drought and wind tolerant, while tolerant to environmental stresses to some extent.Thanks to the top quality shade of the hornbeam trees, birds and small mammals shelter and nest among the branches, while also feeding on the fruit and nutlets. This tree attracts a lot of wildlife, including songbirds and swallowtail butterflies.Rabbits, beavers, and white-tailed deer feed on the leaves and twigs. The extensive use of this tree by beavers could be attributed to its habitat where beavers are vastly found.The European hornbeam makes an excellent landscape tree. These trees can be used as specimens, in groupings, or as hedges.Characteristics Of European Hornbeam TreesWith dense foliage and handsome, pale gray smooth to fluted bark, the year-round leaf cover of this tree makes it a winter haven for wildlife.The uncommon appearance of the bark makes hornbeam trees easier to identify in the winter landscape. In the fall, this tree turns golden yellow.These deciduous trees range in size from small to medium and attain heights of 49-82 ft (15-25 m), and are often seen with a crooked trunk, and a dense oval or vase-shaped crown.The twisted trunk of the Carpinus betulus branches profusely. The twigs are brown-gray and slightly hairy.The flowers, which are wind-pollinated pendulous catkins, are produced in spring. The male and female flowers can be found on the same tree (monoecious), on separate catkins. These golden yellow, drooping catkins grow on the tree on bare branches during springtime.Unlike other trees of the birch family, the male flowers are formed in autumn and don’t open until spring, which is when they mature. Female catkins are formed in the spring.While the male flowers are 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long, the female catkins are 3-4 in (7.5-10 cm) long.After pollination by wind, female catkins develop into papery, green-winged fruits, called samaras.The fruits of hornbeam trees are small, long nuts that appear in the fall, with lengths of 0.28-0.31 in (7-8 mm), partly covered by a leaf-like, three-lobed husk 1.2-1.6 in (3-4 cm) long.Interestingly, the fossil fruits of Carpinus betulus were extracted from borehole samples of the Middle Miocene freshwater deposits in Poland.Hornbeam trees are not messy trees since the fruit remains on the tree until winter. A lot of birds typically eat these fruits and buds.The whitish, tough wood of Carpinus betulus is often described as the hardiest, heaviest, and toughest of woods. This characteristic makes the timber prized for making durable tools, pianos, and constructions. The slow-burning feature of this wood makes good firewood.Leaves, Roots, And Lifespan Of European Hornbeam TreesOne variety of Carpinus betulus bears normal and oaklike leaves on the same tree.Hornbeam leaves are deciduous, grow alternately on branches, and are simple with a serrated margin. They typically vary from 1-4 in (2.5-10.2 cm) in length. The leaves have prominent veins that give them a distinctive, corrugated texture.Dark green hornbeam leaves turn a golden yellow to orange over the fall and may remain on the tree well into winter.The roots of the Carpinus betulus grow wide and shallow and produce stump sprouts upon cutting back.While European hornbeam trees have a pyramidal shape when young, these slow-growing trees reach a height of around 10 ft (3 m) in 10 years. With time, the dense canopy gets more rounded with an oval shape and irregular outline.With relatively slow growth, these trees grow at an average rate of 12 in (30.5 cm) per year, with most of the growth happening between 50 and 150 years.The average height of mature American hornbeam is about 20-30 ft (6-9.1 m), while the European hornbeam spans 40-60 ft (12.2-18.3 m).The robust, hardy hornbeam trees are known to have a lifespan of up to 300 years.Did You Know…In 1916, the Battle of Delville caused massive destruction. However, the Last Tree endured through time and can be seen near Longueval, preserved in Delville Wood South African National Memorial.President Lincoln planted the Lincoln’s Hornbeam, which can be seen in the Botanical Garden within the Capitol grounds in Washington D.C.The shade of European hornbeams makes an ideal and lovely place to relax, laze around, and read a book, so you can plant them in your garden and have a little, cozy spot for yourself for a long time.
European hornbeams, being lovely shade trees, are suitable for groupings around large buildings.
