Columnar
/kol-UM-nar/🌱 Growth Habits●● Intermediate
Also known as: pillar-shaped, narrow upright
A growth habit where the tree or shrub maintains a very narrow profile relative to its height, with branches growing nearly vertically or at acute angles to the trunk. Columnar plants are prized for tight spaces, formal gardens, and screening. Some are naturally columnar, while others are cultivar selections. Not the same as fastigiate, though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably — columnar trees may have a slightly wider canopy.
Etymology
Latin columnaris (pillar-like), from columna (column)
Example
“Quercus robur 'Fastigiata' grows in a tight columnar form, making it suitable for narrow urban streets.”