The common hornbeam, with its grey/green smooth bark and fluted trunk is a wonderful, stately, rounded native tree. Ovate, glossy foliage is mid-green and deeply ribbed turning yellow in the autumn. Green catkins appear from late spring followed by clusters of winged fruit. Carpinus betulus is a very useful tree, it makes a good hedge and when clipped correctly will hold its brown leaves for some time when others have fallen, making it ideal for screening purposes. The European Hornbeam takes well to being trained and is often used for pleaching. The wood can be used for construction or fuel as this tree is suited to pollarding or coppicing. The hornbeam tree will happily grow in a shaded position and is reliably tough. Also, this native tree is attractive to a great deal of wildlife most prominently the hawfinch and several species of moth. As a tree, Carpinus betulus will grow to 10 x 6 meters in 20 years, a beautiful, majestic tree for those who have the space. AKA European hornbeam, Common Hornbeam
