Practical
Plants

Ostrya carpinifolia

Hop Hornbeam

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Ostrya
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
15 m
Spread
15 m
Flower type
monoecious

Uses

Material uses

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

Wood - hard, very tough, close grained. Used for general carpentry[5][6] and for charcoal[5][6].

Product or use
Charcoal
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
S. Europe to W. Asia.
Habitat
Deciduous forests and scrub, open pine forests, very often on dry and stony limestone hills from 50 - 1700 metres in Turkey[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, it normally germinates in spring. The germination rate is variable but usually good[7]. 'Green' seed, harvested when the embryo has fully formed but before the outer coat has dried, sown immediately in a cold frame germinates very well. Stored seed requires stratification, 3 months warm then 5 months cold usually works well but germination can take 18 months[4]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cultivation

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

An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils[2], and growing well on chalk[4]. It succeeds in full sun or semi-shade[3]. Plants are hardy to at least -20°c[4]. A very ornamental tree[1], but it is slow to become established[4]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4].

References

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

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

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  3. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2

  6. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

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

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  8. Davis. P. H. Flora of Turkey. Edinburgh University Press 1965-00-00

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