Carpinus betulus Quercifolia - Hornbeam

Carpinus betulus 'Quercifolia' is a variety of Common Hornbeam that stands out for the deeply lobed shape of its leaves, reminiscent of oak leaves. This medium-sized tree with slow growth has a conical habit, which becomes more oval over time. Its straight trunk is covered with pale grey to grey-green bark. It is smooth in young Carpinus and cracks as it ages. This vigorous hornbeam is very hardy and resistant, really easy to grow, perfect as a specimen tree or for creating informal hedges.

Native to Europe, Turkey, and Ukraine, Carpinus betulus is a very hardy species that is quite common in the forests of central Europe. At maturity, it can reach an average height of 25m, but it rarely exceeds 9m (29ft 6in) in our gardens, and even less when pruned regularly.

Carpinus betulus 'Quercifolia' is smaller than the species, reaching about 10m (32ft 10in) in height and 7m (23ft) in width approximately. The foliage is deciduous. It consists of elongated, deeply lobed leaves. Some branches sometimes bear normal leaves, as in the species. They are light green and turn yellow-orange in autumn. The leaves remain attached to the branches for a long time before falling, at the same time as new leaves and flowers emerge in spring. The hornbeam is monoecious: its flowers are either male or female. The male catkins are yellow and measure 3cm (1.2in) long. They are cylindrical in shape. The female catkins, thinner, are green and reach 12cm (4.7in). The male catkins appear in autumn while the female catkins appear in March. The fruits appear in pendulous clusters, 3 to 6cm (1.2 to 2.4in) long, green in colour and turn yellow-brown when fully ripe, in late September. These fruits are called samaras.

Carpinus betulus 'Quercifolia' is a very hardy and undemanding tree, adapting to any sufficiently deep soil, even limestone and occasionally dry. It is most commonly used in hedges, whether trimmed or informal, as a windbreak, for example, as well as in isolated positions in gardens. It can be associated with other shrubs and autumn foliage trees such as Cotinus, deciduous Euonymus, Persian ironwood or Montpellier maple, all equally easy to succeed in all regions. The orange hips of English roses 'Morning Mist' or 'Fighting Temeraire' should accompany its flamboyant branches until the frosts.

The wood of the common hornbeam is used for heating, papermaking, and even for tools and children's toys. It is a shrub whose lifespan rarely exceeds 100 years in nature.