Carpinus caroliniana 'Sentinel Dries'

RHS Plant Profile

American hornbeam 'Sentinel Dries'

Trees

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A medium sized deciduous tree with blue-grey bark and a densely-branched oval-shaped crown that can grow to approximately 6-8m (20-27ft) high. The foliage emerges reddish, becoming green in summer as it matures, before becoming a fiery orange red in autumn. The green, male and female catkins are produced separately on the same tree in April. The female flowers after fertilisation, develop into hop-like clusters in late summer to autumn, containing winged seeds which disperse on the wind when ripe

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Poorly–drained or Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–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): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

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: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in most soils after establishment including those which are wet, or poorly drained.

Propagation

Propagate by Softwood cuttings in spring and early summer or grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden

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