Easily grown in medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Needs little pruning when grown as a tree, but responds well to hard pruning if grown as a hedge.
European hornbeam typically grows 40-60’ (less frequently to 80’) tall with a pyramidal to oval-rounded crown. ‘Fastigiata’, sometimes called Upright European hornbeam, displays a narrow, fastigiate form in youth, but gradually acquires a tear drop or oval-vase shape with age, typically maturing to 40’ tall and 30’ wide. ‘Fastigiata’ is much more common in commerce than the species. Ovate, toothed, bright medium green leaves (to 4” long) are clean and attractive throughout the growing season with little susceptibility to foliar diseases. Foliage turns yellow-orange in fall. Trunks have smooth gray bark and distinctive muscle-like fluting. Monoecious flowering catkins form in early spring before the foliage emerges. Male catkins are yellowish and female catkins are greenish. Fruits are small nutlets in 3-lobed bracts that appear in drooping 5” long clusters in summer. Betulus is the genus name for birch in reference to the birch-like characteristics of this species.
Although young trees have a narrow fastigiate form, this cultivar acquires an oval-vase shape with age, typically maturing to 40 feet tall and 30 feet wide. Ovate, toothed, bright medium green leaves are clean and attractive throughout the growing season with little susceptibility to foliar diseases. Foliage turns yellow in fall. Trunks have smooth gray bark and distinctive muscle-like fluting. Small nutlets in 3-lobed bracts appear in summer in drooping 5-inch long clusters. This is a superbly shaped landscape tree that also may be hard pruned as a hedge.
No serious insect or disease problems.
Small tree for lawns and streets. Screens. Hedges.
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