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The hornbeam tree is a relative of the birch and has a majestic appearance and green leaves that last into winter. The plant looks good against the background of a building facade or on a well-groomed lawn. Judging by the photo, the hornbeam is always visible due to its beautiful spreading crown.
The success of tree survival depends on growing conditions and proper care.
Description of the hornbeam tree
The natural habitat of the common hornbeam is the countries of Central and Southern Europe. The tree also grows in the western regions of Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova. However, not many people know what a hornbeam tree looks like and often confuse it with other plants.
Carpinus belongs to the long-lived deciduous trees and belongs to the Birch family. Hornbeam has a highly branched superficial root system, which provides it with access to water and nutrients found in the top layer of soil.
The crown is cylindrical, voluminous, spreading.The trunk is ribbed, covered with light gray or brown bark. It can be smooth or with raised cracks.
The leaves are large, ovoid in shape, and have an intense green color. They grow up to 15 cm long, depending on the hornbeam variety. The leaf blades are serrated along the edges, slightly pubescent with soft hairs.
In spring, when warm weather sets in, earring inflorescences appear on the tree. They are male and female. Faded inflorescences become loose and then fall off, leaving behind nuts with a diameter of 4-6 mm.
The fruits are collected for further propagation. The hornbeam tree begins to bear fruit at 18-20 years of age. Every year the tree produces a bountiful harvest of nuts, which are fully ripened towards the beginning of October.
The flowering period of hornbeam falls in April-May
Where does hornbeam grow in Russia?
There are two common species in Russia: common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and eastern hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis). Trees grow in the Caucasus and Crimea. These species can also be found in the forests of the Primorsky Territory among coniferous and deciduous trees.
Types and varieties of hornbeam
About 30 species of hornbeam are found in nature. Many of them have high frost resistance and the ability to adapt to adverse weather conditions. However, only some types of hornbeam trees have become widespread.
European or common hornbeam
The European hornbeam, also known as the common hornbeam, is the most common species. It grows in many European countries. The height of an adult tree is 25-30 m.
This species is recognizable by its cylindrical or pyramidal dense crown. Its trunk is covered with rough, light gray bark. The leaf blades have a round or oblong shape. The branches are thin and long.
The flowering period occurs in mid-May and lasts two weeks. In early October, brown fruits and nuts form on the tree.
The wood is dense, hard, used in industrial production
Black or eastern hornbeam
The variety forms a tree no more than 8 m high. The plant is characterized by slow growth, resistance to long-term drought, as well as high adaptive ability to external conditions.
The crown is egg-shaped with large green foliage. The trunk has a twisted appearance and is covered with silvery bark.
The tree tolerates pruning well, which allows the crown to be given any shape. Therefore, this species is used to create hedges and landscaping garden plots.
Black hornbeam, or eastern hornbeam, is a durable tree that can exist for 150 years
Caucasian hornbeam
Such a luxurious tree with a spreading crown and silvery bark will decorate any area. Moreover, it does not take up much space.
The plant has an interesting crown color. The lower foliage is dark green in color, and the upper foliage is light green.
The tree has good growth and the ability to grow, forming dense thickets. It is often used to decorate hedges. The wood is durable and is used to create jewelry, musical instruments and golf clubs.
The maximum height of the Caucasian hornbeam tree is 5 meters
Caroline
Medium-sized tree with a maximum height of 7 m.Depending on growing conditions, it can take the form of a voluminous shrub with spreading branches.
The leaves are medium in size, tapered towards the tips. In summer the foliage is blue-green, which changes to purplish-red in autumn.
The flowering period depends on the climate of the area. In warm regions, flowering begins in the second decade of May and continues until mid-June.
The trunk is covered with smooth brown-gray bark. Wood is valued for its increased density and durability.
In its natural environment, the Carolina hornbeam is found in North America, where it grows near bodies of water. In Europe it grows in cultivated form in parks, gardens and private plots.
The trunk of the Carolina species is thin, with a diameter of 10-15 cm
Cordifolia
In the wild, heartleaf hornbeam can be found in China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula. In Russia, this species is not widespread; it mainly grows in the southern regions. For life, it prefers fir and cedar-broad-leaved forests, where it feels comfortable in humidity and shade. Loves fertile and moist soil, but grows well on rocky, dry soil.
At the time of flowering, which begins in the first ten days of June, staminate catkins, up to 7.8 cm long, appear on the tree. They are covered with dense pubescence and are supported on short legs. After flowering, ellipsoidal fruits, slightly ribbed and angular, form in place of the inflorescences.
The tree has large and beautiful leaves. It reaches a height of 15 meters. Due to its decorative appearance, it is used in landscape design, where it grows in groups or individually.
This grade is widely used in turning and furniture production.Wood is perfect for crafts because it is plastic and does not undergo abrasion.
Life expectancy of heartleaf hornbeam is 55-60 years
Turchaninova
The Turchaninov hornbeam tree is a plant 5-6 m high. The leaves are oval in shape and grow up to 5 cm in length. In spring they are bronze, and in summer they become intense green. The tree blooms with earring inflorescences. After flowering, it forms fruits in the form of glandular-pointed nuts.
For planting, choose a lighted place; only slight shading is acceptable. Hornbeam is frost-resistant, but does not tolerate sudden drops in temperature. In the northern regions, the tree is grown bonsai style on a windowsill. It is undemanding in terms of soil composition, but develops well on loose, fertile, non-wetland soil.
The peculiarity of the tree lies in its luxurious spherical crown and large foliage.
Virginia
The tree variety forms a shrub with a round crown and spreading branches. The height of the plant is 4 meters. It develops slowly and therefore retains its decorative effect.
A beautiful deciduous tree goes well with flowering crops. It is also suitable for creating hedges and green structures.
The Virginia hornbeam tree is native to North America.
Features of cultivation
Hornbeam requires intensive care especially at a young age. The plant must be provided with watering if it rains rarely, protected from diseases and pests, and the crown must be pruned in a timely manner to limit the growth of branches.
In general, the tree is unpretentious, grows slowly, so it is very easy to care for. Hornbeam can withstand frost, but young seedlings need to be covered with non-woven material for the winter.
Spraying the plant with lime and copper sulfate will prevent viral wilt
Reproduction methods
Hornbeam successfully propagates by seeds, cuttings and layering. The first method of propagation for an amateur gardener is quite complicated, lengthy and therefore rarely used.
In autumn, hornbeam fruits are collected. Take out the mature seeds and place them in a paper envelope. Store in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf for approximately 90 days.
Before sowing, the seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth and placed in a warm place. Sprouts appear after two weeks.
After the seedlings reach 3 cm in length, pick the pots. And when the plants get stronger, they are transplanted to a permanent place.
Seeds remain viable for three years
Cuttings are the simplest and most reliable way to propagate a tree. Hornbeam cuttings are cut in early spring, before the buds appear. To do this, a cutting 20 cm long is cut with pruning shears. The cut site is treated with a root growth stimulator. Then they are planted in nutritious, moist soil. When the first leaves appear, the seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place.
It is better to cut more cuttings, since not everyone will develop roots
To propagate hornbeam by layering, holes are dug near the root of the tree. They put fertilizer on the bottom, moisten it and place young shoots from a neighboring tree in it.
Medicinal properties of hornbeam flowers and leaves
Hornbeam pleasantly surprises with its chemical composition. Found in the leaves:
- aldehydes;
- tannins;
- caffeic and gallic acids;
- bioflavonoids;
- coumarins.
They are also rich in ascorbic acid and essential oils. Traditional healers note the effectiveness of infusions based on hornbeam leaves for digestive disorders.
In folk medicine, not only leaves, but also flowers are used. Based on raw materials, drugs are produced that have a calming and vasodilating effect, and also serve as the prevention of dangerous diseases.
Hornbeam flowers are used to prepare healing water infusions and alcohol tinctures. Flower remedies help cleanse the blood vessels of the brain.
Before using preparations from hornbeam flowers and leaves, you should consult a specialist.
Properties and applications of hornbeam wood
Hornbeam wood is in demand in many areas due to its physical properties. It is durable and therefore resistant to mechanical damage, but hard and difficult to process. After drying it cracks.
Wood fibers hold nails and other fasteners securely. For this reason, it is often used for furniture and parquet production.
The color of the wood is pleasant, light and warm, with oddly shaped stripes
Hornbeam hedge
A hornbeam hedge is created from young or older trees. Planting is permissible from the beginning of October to the end of May.
No more than five trees are planted per meter
To create a hedge, trees are planted at a distance of 40 cm from each other, and if they are large, then the distance between them is increased by another 10 cm.To get a straight fence, string is stretched along the fence or wall and holes are dug along it.
The excavated soil is mixed with compost and the resulting mixture is used to fill the holes. Seedlings are placed in them, and then, slightly lifting, the roots are covered with soil so that no voids form.
The soil is compacted with palms. Plantings are watered abundantly with settled water. If the soil is clayey, watering is repeated after 2-3 hours.
The soil is first loosened with a pitchfork.
Conclusion
The hornbeam tree is not highly decorative. But, as it turned out, it is used in different spheres of human activity. An elegant deciduous tree is often used by designers for landscaping garden spaces. It is characterized by good adaptability to the soil, as well as low maintenance.
