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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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Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metres
Time to ultimate height
more than 50 years
Ultimate spread
2.5–4 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green Green
Summer Green
Autumn Yellow Brown
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Betulaceae
Native to the UK
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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