Ostrya carpinifolia

Ostrya carpinifolia, also known as hop hornbeam or ostrier, is a tall deciduous shrub or small tree that is interesting in many ways. Its branches, covered with golden yellow foliage in autumn, stand out beautifully against a crevassed trunk covered with a beautiful silvery bark. Similar to common hornbeam in the shape of its leaves, it also stands out with its decorative fruits resembling those of hops. A very beautiful plant to be planted individually in a garden, or to create decorative alignments. Hardy and undemanding, it thrives in poor soils, even limestone and dry ones.

The hop hornbeam, also called ironwood in certain regions, belongs to the family of Betulaceae, just like birch and hornbeam. It is native to southwestern Europe and Turkey, where it thrives alongside Aleppo pine, maritime pine, and pubescent oak, usually on rocky slopes and in poor soil. The growing conditions, depending on the richness and water availability in the soil, will make it either a tall shrub of 3m (9ft 10in) or a small tree reaching 15m (49ft 2in). Under favourable conditions, its growth is rapid. Its habit is compact and erect, but its trunk, which often branches into several main branches, gives the crown a diffuse shape that becomes rounder with age. Its leaves, deciduous, alternate, and dentate, are slightly pubescent, especially on the lower surface. They have 12 to 15 pairs of very prominent veins. The flowers, appearing in April or May, are gathered in the form of catkins. The male flowers are pendulous catkins, while the female flowers are presented in the form of erect, terminal catkins, forming a pendant fruit 3 to 5cm (1.2 to 2in) long at maturity, yellow-orange to beige, resembling hop cones.

The hop hornbeam is highly appreciated in Mediterranean regions and on the French Riviera, although it has nothing exotic about it. In reality, it is planted in these regions for its great frugality and its ability to adapt to poor soils, while offering beautiful autumn colours and original bark. It can be associated in a grove or hedge with evergreen oak, Montpellier maple, Aleppo pine, or even Persian ironwood and garlic tree, to introduce beautiful autumn colours. It also makes a beautiful solitary subject in a large natural garden.