Photograph coming soon
Carpinus betulus
Parasol Trees
Carpinus betulus
Hornbeam parasol tree
Fresh, pleated green leaves trained into a crisp, flat canopy. A parasol Carpinus betulus gives elegant, architectural shade that suits gardens of every size.
Neat, flat canopy for dappled shade
Fresh green pleated leaves
Golden autumn colour
Thrives on 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
Parasol (roof-trained) tree
Foliage
Deciduous
Seasons of interest
Spring and summer foliage, autumn colour
Canopy
Trained flat on a frame; kept to size with annual pruning
Position
Full sun or partial shade
Soil
Most soils, including heavy clay
Hardiness
Fully hardy in the UK
Available
A range of canopy sizes and stem heights. Ask our team for current specimens and pricing.
Why we love it
Hornbeam is one of the best trees for training, and as a parasol it makes a beautifully crisp, level canopy of fresh green leaves.
It is tough, reliable and happy on heavy clay, and pairs perfectly with hornbeam hedging and pleached screens for a cohesive, structured garden.
How to use it
Plant over a terrace or seating area for shade, in pairs to frame an entrance, or in a grid to create a shaded outdoor room.
Planting and aftercare
Plant between autumn and spring and water through the first two summers. Prune in late summer or winter, tying in new growth and trimming to keep the canopy flat.
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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Hornbeam responds beautifully to training and clipping, so it holds a crisp, flat canopy and is very tough.
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Prune in late summer or winter, tying in new shoots to the frame and trimming back to keep the shape.
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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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A parasol tree, sometimes called a roof-trained or umbrella tree, has a clear stem and branches trained flat on a frame to form a wide, level canopy. It gives instant, architectural shade over a terrace, seating area or dining table.
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Yes, and we encourage it. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey to see our parasol trees in person. Walk in any time during opening hours, or book a Genus Bar appointment with one of our specialists.
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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.
All our parasol trees
Explore every tree in our parasol 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.