Topiary
Carpinus betulus
Hornbeam topiary
Crisp, fresh green and wonderfully tough, Carpinus betulus topiary brings architectural structure to gardens, including those on heavy clay.
Fresh, pleated green leaves
Clips to clean cubes, blocks and columns
Copes with clay, damp soil and exposure
Golden autumn colour
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
Topiary
Foliage
Deciduous, holding some dry leaves through winter when clipped
Shapes
Cubes, blocks, columns, boxes on stems and bespoke forms
Growth rate
Moderate
Position
Full sun or partial shade
Soil
Most soils, including heavy clay
Pots or ground
Best in the ground; large containers possible with care
Hardiness
Fully hardy in the UK
Available
Individually shaped pieces in a range of sizes. Ask our team for current shapes and pricing.
Why we love it
Hornbeam is the forgiving one. The fresh, crisp leaves give clipped shapes a lively texture through spring and summer before turning gold in autumn, and it's happy on the heavier, damper soils where beech struggles.
Choosing a shape
Cubes and columns give structure and rhythm, and boxes on stems lift the shape above lower planting for a more contemporary look. They tie in perfectly with hornbeam hedging and pleached trees. Browse all our topiary cubes.
Planting and care
Plant between autumn and spring and water well through the first summer. Clip once a year in late summer.
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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Both clip beautifully. Hornbeam is better on heavy clay and damp ground, while beech holds its winter leaves more reliably on well-drained soils.
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Once a year in late summer keeps the shapes crisp.
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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 recommend it. Every piece of topiary is hand-shaped, so no two are quite the same. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey to choose your pieces by eye. 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 pieces can be offloaded by HI-AB or Moffett where needed.
All our topiary
Explore every option in our topiary 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.