Practical
Plants

Carpinus betulus

Hornbeam

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Carpinus genus in the family Betulaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
25 m
Spread
20 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are haemostatic[13]. They are used in external compresses to stop bleeding and heal wounds[13]. A distilled water made from the leaves is an effective eye lotion[13]. The leaves are harvested in August and dried for later use[13]. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Tiredness', 'Weariness' and 'Mental and physical exhaustion'[8].

Product or use
Bach
Product or use
Haemostatic
Product or use
Ophthalmic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Plants can be grown as a medium to tall hedge, they retain their dead leaves throughout the winter if clipped at least once a year in late summer[2][10][6]. They should not be clipped in spring since they will bleed profusely[7]. A yellow dye is obtained from the bark[3]. Wood - heavy, close grained, hard, very tough, very durable, not very durable according to another report. Used for flooring, cogs, tools, piano mechanisms etc[1][2][4][11][3]. A good fuel[12].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Sweden to the Pyrenees east to Iran in W. Asia.
Habitat
Woodlands and hedgerows on sandy or clay loams[5], preferring heavier soils[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in an outdoors seedbed as soon as it is ripe[14]. Germination is usually good, though it may take 18 months[15]. If collected whilst still 'green' (after the seed is ripe but before it has dried fully on the plant) and sown immediately it should germinate in the following spring[15]. Grow the plants on for two years in the seedbed and then plant them out into their permanent positions in the winter. The average seed viability is around 65%[16]. Pre-treat stored seed with 4 weeks warm and 12 weeks cold stratification and sow in a cold frame[16]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame until they are at least 15cm tall before planting them into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Thrives in any good loam, including chalk[1][2], it does not demand much light[6]. Prefers a deep open loam[1] and does well on damp clays[6]. Succeeds in all but the most acid soils[6]. Dormant trees are very cold tolerant, the young growth is not usually damaged by late spring frosts[6]. The trees cast a deep shade[16][6]. A very ornamental plant[1]. Trees are shallow-rooted[13]. The hornbeam has 28 species of associated insects[9]. Trees take 10 - 20 years from seed before they produce seed[16] and about 100 years to reach maturity[6]. At one time this tree was commonly pollarded or coppiced for its wood and for fuel[2][4][6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  6. Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  8. Chancellor. P. M. Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies C. W. Daniel Co. Ltd. 1985-00-00 ISBN 85207 002 0

    ↩

  9. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

    ↩

  10. Shepherd. F.W. Hedges and Screens. Royal Horticultural Society. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0900629649

    ↩

  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  12. Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-00-635555-2

    ↩

  13. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  14. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  15. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩1↩2

  16. Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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