Carpinus betulus Fastigiata Monument - Hornbeam

Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata Monument', also known as the Bush or Fastigiate Hornbeam 'Monumentalis', is a deciduous tree with moderate growth whose overall appearance, in column form, evokes a small poplar. Well-branched from the base, with a dense and narrowly oval crown, it is perfect for creating a green screen or as a solitary specimen in a small-sized garden. Its green foliage that turns yellow in autumn remains attached to the branches for quite some time before falling. The elegance of its well-defined silhouette is also appreciated in a contemporary setting or in alignment to highlight a grand avenue. Like the hornbeam of our forests, this cultivar is also very hardy and resistant, truly easy to grow.

Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata Monument' is a cultivar selected for its modest dimensions. Its ancestor, the common hornbeam, is a tree native to the forests of Europe and Asia Minor (Turkey and Ukraine) with a pyramidal habit that rounds off over time. 'Fastigiata Monument' distinguishes itself with a very compact, closed crown and low branching. At maturity, this tree will measure approximately 4-5m (13ft 1in -16ft 5in) in height and 1-2m (3ft 4in - 6ft 7in) in width. The trunk, very straight, is covered with a pale grey to greenish-grey bark. It is smooth in young Hornbeams and cracks as it ages. Its flowers are either male or female, they have a slightly different appearance and appear at two distinct times on the tree: male catkins are visible in autumn and female catkins in spring. Carpinus betulus produces hanging clusters of fruits, 3 to 6cm (1.2 to 2.4in) long, green in colour, which turn yellow-brown when mature, in late September. These fruits are called samaras and are toxic. The foliage consists of ovate, doubly toothed leaves, 7 to 12cm (2.8 to 4.7in) long. Its colour is a light green from spring to summer, turning golden yellow in autumn, then taking on a tobacco hue. To differentiate the leaves of a hornbeam from those of a beech, which are often confused, it's very simple! Hornbeam leaves are thin and dentate along the edges, while beech leaves are hairy and thick.

The 'Fastigiata Monument' Hornbeam is a very hardy and undemanding plant, adapting to any soil that is sufficiently deep, even fairly dry. It is most often used in hedges, whether trimmed or informal, for example as a windbreak, as well as in solitary subjects in small to medium-sized gardens. It can be paired with other autumn foliage shrubs such as European Spindle, Parrotia or Iron Tree, or Carnival Field Maple with variegated foliage, all equally easy to succeed in all regions.

The wood of the common hornbeam is used for heating, paper production, as well as tools and toys for children. It is a bush that rarely exceeds 100 years of age in nature.