Carpinus betulus SEEDS

Carpinus betulus seeds grow into the European hornbeam one of the most important and ecologically significant deciduous trees of the temperate biome from the British Isles and western Europe east through central and southern Europe to Turkey, the Caucasus and Iran. The wood of the hornbeam is exceptionally hard, dense and white arguably the hardest commercial timber produced by any European tree, traditionally used for cog wheels, mill machinery, butchers’ blocks, chopping boards and tool handles, and now valued for flooring. The trunk and major branches develop a distinctive, deeply fluted, ribbed or muscular grey bark one of the most immediately recognisable bark textures of any European tree. The ovate, sharply serrated, pleated leaves turn yellow in autumn and, like beech, may persist dead on the tree through winter (marcescence). Family Betulaceae.

Full sun to partial shade; adaptable to a wide range of soils including chalk, clay and heavy soils. Responds exceptionally well to clipping and is the finest tree for formal pleached hedges, avenues and topiary in the European tradition.

• Exceptionally hard, dense white timber one of the hardest in Europe; used for cogs, blocks and flooring
• Deeply fluted, ribbed muscular grey bark the most distinctive diagnostic character
• Europe to Iran temperate biome; from the British Isles to the Caucasus
• Marcescent holds dead leaves through winter; superb formal hedge and pleached avenue tree
• Full sun to partial shade; chalk, clay and heavy soils; very adaptable

Carpinus betulus is one of Europe’s most versatile and architecturally important trees the European hornbeam’s exceptional timber, fluted bark, and outstanding response to clipping have made it the premier tree for formal hedges, pleached avenues and structured garden design across the entire temperate European landscape.

IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.