European hornbeam

Short Description

The European hornbeam can grow up to 30 m tall and has a broad umbrella-like crown.

The leaves grow alternately on the branch. The are oval and pointed with a double serrated margin. Their parallel lateral nerves give them a corrugated appearance.

The bark is grey, smooth with net-like markings and little bark formation. The trunk surface is undulating.

The pendulous yellowish-brown flowers are known as catkins. The are compounds of the many male flowers. Female flowers are arranged in inconspicuous greenish-shite catkins and located at the end of twigs.

Its fruits are nuts enclosed in a three-lobed greenish-yellow covering. The centre lobe is notably longer.

In the city

The European hornbeam is often found in parks to provide shelter or hedges. It has good properties in terms of noise reduction. It is tolerant of shade, but reacts sensitively to emissions, soil sealing and salt. This makes it well suited to tree-lined roads, parking places and pedestrian areas. It is only of limited use as a roadside tree.