Multi-stem Trees
Carpinus betulus
Hornbeam
Tough, elegant and beautifully textured, a multi-stem Carpinus betulus brings fluted grey stems, fresh pleated leaves and golden autumn colour to the garden.
Smooth, fluted grey stems
Fresh, pleated green leaves
Golden-yellow autumn colour
Thrives on heavy clay and in exposed sites
Please check before you visit. Our nursery is very well stocked, but what we hold changes with the seasons, so this plant may not always be in stock. Enquire before you head over and we will check availability and the sizes we have for you.
At a glance
Type
Multi-stem tree
Foliage
Deciduous
Seasons of interest
Spring and summer foliage, autumn colour, winter stems
Eventual size
Typically 8 to 12 m tall
Position
Full sun or partial shade
Soil
Most soils, including heavy clay
Hardiness
Fully hardy in the UK
Available
A range of sizes and forms. Ask our team for current specimens and pricing.
Why we love it
Hornbeam is often grown as a hedge or pleached screen, but as a multi-stem its smooth, sinewy grey stems really shine.
It is one of the most forgiving trees for difficult sites, coping with clay, damp ground and wind.
How to use it
Use it as a feature tree on heavier soils, in groups for a woodland feel, or alongside hornbeam hedging and pleached trees for a cohesive scheme.
Planting and aftercare
Plant between autumn and spring and water through the first two summers. Prune in late summer or winter to lift the canopy and reveal the stems.
See it in person
Every plant at Form is hand-selected, none contains new peat, and nothing beats choosing yours by eye. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey, just 30 minutes from London, where our team will show you the best of what is on the nursery right now. We deliver across London, Surrey and the Home Counties, and nationwide.
Walk in any time during opening hours and you will be looked after. If you would like dedicated time with a specialist, book a Genus Bar appointment.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes, hornbeam is one of the best trees for heavy clay soils.
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It can reach 8 to 12 m in time, but grows steadily and can be managed with sympathetic pruning.
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We keep a very well-stocked nursery, but our stock changes with the seasons, so availability varies. Please email us before you visit and we will check what we have and the sizes available.
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Yes, and we would love you to. Every multi-stem tree is individual, with its own branch structure and character, so we always encourage customers to choose by eye. Our largest specimens are held at our Row Town showroom in Surrey. Walk in any time during opening hours, or book a Genus Bar appointment with one of our specialists. If you can’t visit, we are happy to send photographs of individual trees.
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Yes, we deliver nationwide. Deliveries are arranged by our dedicated in-house operations team, and larger specimens can be offloaded by HI-AB or Moffett where needed. We will always agree the most suitable option with you before delivery.
All our multi-stem trees
Explore every tree in our multi-stem trees collection, or view them all with photographs →
Carpinus betulus
Can’t see what you’re looking for?
Get in touch and we’ll help you find it. Our nursery is very well stocked and we can source almost any plant through our network of trusted growers. Email info@formplants.com, or send us your whole plant list through our bespoke sourcing service.