Carpinus betulus 'Columnaris'
Columnar European Hornbeam

Carpinus betulus ′Columnaris′ - Overall Tree in Summer

Family:

Betulaceae (Birch Family) 29

Genus:

Carpinus (Hornbeam Ironwood Musclewood Blue Beech Water Beech Beech) 9

Plant Type:

Tree 583

Growth Forms:

Columnar 48

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 5 258

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 846

Flower Notes:

Yellow;green (April; male catkins, not ornamentally important;female catkins, not ornamentally important)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Summer); Yellow (Fall)

Fruit Notes:

Brown (3-lobed nutlets in long clusters that resemble "hops")

Ultimate Height:

25 feet

Ultimate Spread:

10 feet

Fruiting Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, but prefers well-drained soils

Range:

Cultivated Origin

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves alternate, simple, 2.5-5" long and 1-2" wide with doubly serrated margins. Brown to red buds are long, pointed, and imbricate, with scales having soft pubescence. Axillary buds curve in toward the stem. This columnar cultivar has a strong central leader and is smaller and slower growing than the similar cultivar 'Fastigiata'. Also compared to 'Fastigiata', 'Columnaris' is tighter and narrower, with leaves that tend to be more distributed along the ends of the branches.

Special Characteristics:

Tolerant of Poor Site Conditions 188

Additional Information

Carpinus betulus is relatively trouble-free and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and some shade. This plant is also very tolerant of heavy pruning, making it useful as a hedge. The cultivar 'Columnaris' is a narrow, columnar cultivar that is slow-growing with densely set branches and leaves.

Plant Photo Gallery

Overall Tree in Summer

Leaf

Bark

Fruit and Flower

Flower

Bark

Buds

Fall Habit

Winter Habit

When Carpinus betulus 'Columnaris' has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

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Fruiting

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Week 1 fruiting not present	Week 2 fruiting not present	Week 3 fruiting not present	Week 4 fruiting not present	Week 5 fruiting not present	Week 6 fruiting not present	Week 7 fruiting not present	Week 8 fruiting not present	Week 9 fruiting not present	Week 10 fruiting not present	Week 11 fruiting not present	Week 12 fruiting not present	Week 13 fruiting not present	Week 14 fruiting not present	Week 15 fruiting not present	Week 16 fruiting not present	Week 17 fruiting not present	Week 18 fruiting not present	Week 19 fruiting not present	Week 20 fruiting not present	Week 21 fruiting not present	Week 22 fruiting present	Week 23 fruiting not present	Week 24 fruiting not present	Week 25 fruiting not present	Week 26 fruiting present	Week 27 fruiting not present	Week 28 fruiting not present	Week 29 fruiting not present	Week 30 fruiting present	Week 31 fruiting present	Week 32 fruiting present	Week 33 fruiting present	Week 34 fruiting present	Week 35 fruiting present	Week 36 fruiting present	Week 37 fruiting present	Week 38 fruiting present	Week 39 fruiting present	Week 40 fruiting present	Week 41 fruiting present	Week 42 fruiting present	Week 43 fruiting present	Week 44 fruiting present	Week 45 fruiting present	Week 46 fruiting present	Week 47 fruiting not present	Week 48 fruiting not present	Week 49 fruiting not present	Week 50 fruiting not present	Week 51 fruiting not present	Week 52 fruiting not present

12 Carpinus betulus 'Columnaris' found

Building Map...

= Heritage plant = Memorial plant

Number	Accession ID	Location
1	2012_01434*L	MOLL
2	2013_00026*A	BRES
3	2012_01434*M	MOLL
4	2013_00017*A	BRES
5	2012_01434*N	MOLL
6	2012_01434*R	MOLL
7	2013_00019*A	BRES
8	2013_00020*A	BRES
9	2013_00028*A	BRES
10	2013_00018*A	BRES
11	2013_00027*A	BRES
12	2013_00025*A	BRES	Heritage Plant Dedicated/Memorial Plant