Photograph coming soon
Carpinus betulus
Standard Trees
Carpinus betulus
Hornbeam
Fresh, pleated leaves and smooth, fluted grey bark. As a standard, Carpinus betulus is a tough, elegant tree that thrives on clay.
Smooth, fluted grey bark
Fresh green pleated leaves
Golden autumn colour
Excellent on clay and 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
Standard tree
Foliage
Deciduous
Seasons of interest
Spring foliage, autumn colour
Eventual size
Typically 12 to 15 m tall
Position
Full sun or partial shade
Soil
Most soils, including heavy clay
Hardiness
Fully hardy in the UK
Available
A range of girth sizes, root-balled in season or container-grown. Ask our team for current specimens and pricing.
Why we love it
Hornbeam is one of the most adaptable native trees, happy in heavy clay and exposed sites.
As a standard it forms a dense, rounded crown and responds well to pruning.
How to use it
Use as a specimen, in avenues or in groups, and alongside hornbeam hedging and pleached trees.
Planting and aftercare
Plant between autumn and spring, stake securely and water well through the first two summers. Prune in winter while dormant to remove crossing or damaged branches and keep a balanced crown.
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.
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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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Standard trees are sold by girth, the circumference of the stem 1 m above ground. A 12–14 cm heavy standard is a popular size for gardens, while larger semi-mature trees give instant impact. See our guide to tree sizes and specifications.
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Yes, and we encourage it. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey, or book a Genus Bar appointment with one of our specialists. We can also send photographs of individual trees.
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Yes, we deliver nationwide with our own in-house team, and larger trees can be offloaded by HI-AB or Moffett.
All our standard trees
Explore every tree in our standard trees collection, or view them all with photographs →
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.