Description
C. betulus – Common Hornbeam – European Hornbeam – This pyramidal, later irregularly rounded treed from Europe, Turkey, Asia and the Ukraine grows 80′ feet tall and 70′ feet wide although 30′ feet tall is more common.It has flutted, smooth pale gray bark.It produces ovate, prominently veined and unequally toothed, mid green leaves 3-5″ long, turning yellow to orange in autumn.In spring it bears yellow male catkins, to 1 1/4″ long and greenish female catkins, to 5″ long.Female catkins are followed by racemes, 1 1/4-2 ½” long, of green fruit with prominent, 3 lobed bracts, maturing to yellow-brown.
‘Fastigiata’ – ‘Pyramidalis’ – grows 50′ feet tall and 40′ feet wide is columnar when becoming broadly conical and more open with age
zones 5-9
