European Hornbeam

Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata'

Betulaceae (Birch Family)

▲▼Tree by Karls Hall around 1998

▲twigs and leaves, showing long, curved buds and double-serrate leaf margins

Location on campus:  east side of Karls Hall

Carpinus betulus: European Hornbeam

·         leaves alternate, simple, deciduous, ovate to oblong with doubly serrate margins and pointed tip; 2.5-5" long and 1/3 as wide; dark green above and lighter beneath

·         stems slender, glabrous, olive brown with prominent lenticels

·         bark is smooth, dark blue-gray, with sinewy ridges

·         grows 40-60' tall and about 2 as wide, in upright pyramidal to columnar shape with many slender ascending branchesC very formal appearance; strong wood keeps branch splitting due to narrow branch angles from being a problem

·         prefers full sun to light shade and tolerant to wide range of soils

·         slow to medium growth rate