Description
Carpinus – Hornbeam –
There are about 40 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, in this genus. They occur in woodland in cool climates areas of the Northern Hemisphere. They have alternate, prominently veined, smooth or toothed edged leaves and, in spring bear unisexual flowers in catkins, both male and female catkins are borne on the same plant. Hornbeams are grown for their elegant habit, ornamental foliage, autumn color, and pendent leafy bracted racemes of fruit. They are attractive specimen trees for a park or woodland, and are excellent for hedging.
Grow in moderately fertile, well drained soil in sun or partial shade.
Prone to powdery mildew, cankers, dieback, and wood-rotting fungi.
C. turczaninowii – This small, elegant shrubby tree, from Northern China, Korea and Japan grows 20-40′ feet tall and 30′ feet wide. It is upright when young and later rounded, with slender shoots and ovate to broadly ovate, double toothed, glossy dark green leaves, to 2″ long, turning orange in autumn. Male catkins are green and ½-1″ long. Female catkins are yellow green and to 2″ long, they are followed by racemes, 1-2″ long, of pendent, green, later yellow-brown fruit with ovate, unequal bracts, toothed on one side.
Zones 6-9
