Willow · CC BY 2.5
Hornbeam
Tree·Carpinus betulus
Full sun
Sun
Medium
Water
Moist soil
Drainage
Zones 4–8
Hardiness
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is a tree. It grows best in full sun and has moderate water needs. It grows well with pedunculate oak.
Through the year
DormantLeafing outFloweringFruitingDying back
Works well with
from wiki dataWHAT IT NEEDS
Wants full sun
Needs moderate water
Tolerates moist soil, as long as it drains well
Prefers soil pH 5–7
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Prefers loam, clay, sand soil
Tolerates some soil compaction
Draws up calcium, potassium from deep in the soil
Adds a lot of organic matter to the soil
Partners with mycorrhizal fungi to boost nutrient uptake
WHAT IT GIVES
Gives shade (dense)
Gives wind shelter (high, especially when hedged)
Gives leaf litter (high)
Gives organic matter (high from leaf litter)
Gives habitat (for birds and insects)
Gives timber (hardwood)
Gives oxygen (high)
Provides calcium
Provides potassium
Shelters birds
Shelters wildlife
HOW IT GROWS
SIZE & SPACING
Canopy tree
Height1500–2500 cm
Spacing1000 cm (min 500 cm)
Root depthDeep
Width800–1500 cm
Width figures are rough estimates, the most variable measurement in our data.
AI estimate · accuracy improves as growers contribute corrections.
HOW TO PROPAGATE
Propagate by seed, hardwood cuttings, grafting
Difficulty
Establishes in about 3 yr
Self-seeds a little on its own
Where this comes from
Parsed4 Oct 2026
ConfidenceNot recorded
Photograph Willow · CC BY 2.5