Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata', narrow European hornbeam
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Broadleaf Deciduous Trees

Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata'

narrow European hornbeam

BetulaceaeEurope and western Asia

At a Glance

TypeTree
HabitUpright
FoliageDeciduous
Height35-50 feet (10.5-15 m)
Width20-30 feet (6-9 m)
Maturity25 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

4 - 8
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Deer Resistant
Drought Tolerant
Maintenancevery low

Overview

Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' is a deciduous tree that begins life as a tightly columnar to broadly fastigiate form and gradually matures into a dense oval crown — an important distinction for site planning. Young trees 10–20 years old have a narrow, upright habit 10–15 feet (3–4.5 m) wide; mature trees 30–40 years old develop a broadly oval, densely branched crown 20–30 feet (6–9 m) wide at the same height of 35–50 feet (10.5–15 m). The smooth gray bark has a characteristic fluted, sinuous, muscle-like texture (giving rise to common names 'ironwood' and 'musclewood' for the genus) that is ornamentally distinctive in winter when other features are absent. Leaves are ovate to elliptic, 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) long, with doubly serrated margins and deeply impressed parallel veins, bright green in spring and summer, turning yellow to orange-yellow in fall. Inconspicuous male and female catkins appear in spring; female catkins mature into pendulous, hop-like clusters of winged nutlets (strobiles) in September through October. Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' is one of the most urban-tolerant deciduous trees available — remarkably adaptable to compacted soils, alkaline pH, air pollution, drought, and reflected heat — making it a frequently recommended street and parking lot tree for Pacific Northwest cities. Great Plant Picks endorsed.

Native Range

Betula betulus (European hornbeam) is native to Europe and western Asia, from England east to Iran and south to the Mediterranean. It grows naturally in mixed deciduous forests, hedgerows, and woodland margins. 'Fastigiata' is a cultivar of garden origin selected for its upright habit.

Suggested Uses

Excellent street tree, parking lot tree, and urban specimen for PNW cities and towns where soil compaction, alkaline pH, and reflected heat limit other tree choices. The narrow young form suits restricted street tree spaces; the broadening mature form provides substantial shade over decades. Effective as a formal hedge or pleached screen — C. betulus takes formal shearing exceptionally well. Great Plant Picks endorsed for Pacific Northwest gardens. A reliable, long-lived, low-maintenance tree with four-season interest: spring catkins, summer texture, fall color, and winter muscular bark.

How to Identify

Identified by smooth gray bark with distinctive fluted, sinuous, muscle-like ridges — as if tendons run beneath the bark surface. Leaves are ovate to elliptic, 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) long with doubly serrated margins and deeply impressed parallel veins, resembling a Betula (birch) leaf but with more prominent venation. In fall, pendulous hop-like fruiting clusters (strobiles) hang from the branches. Young trees have a tight columnar habit; mature trees broaden to a dense oval. Distinguished from Carpinus caroliniana (American hornbeam) by larger leaves and tree (not small multi-stemmed shrub) size.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height35' - 50'
Width/Spread20' - 30'

Reaches mature size in approximately 25 years

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow
orange

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks
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Spring
Inconspicuous male and female catkins appear in April through May, not ornamentally significant. Female catkins mature into pendulous hop-like clusters of winged nutlets (strobiles) 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) long that turn from green to tan-brown in September through October, providing modest fall interest. Nutlets are wind-dispersed.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

greenish (catkins, inconspicuous)

Foliage Description

bright green in spring and summer; yellow to orange-yellow in fall

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Partial Shade
Requires 3-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 8.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamclaysandchalk
Drainage
well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

20-30 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

One of the most adaptable and urban-tolerant deciduous trees for Pacific Northwest landscapes. Tolerates compacted soils, alkaline pH (up to 8.0), air pollution, drought once established, and reflected heat from paving — conditions that stress most other trees. Plant in full sun for best form and fall color; tolerates significant part shade. Prefers well-drained to average moisture soils but adapts to clay. Requires minimal care once established. Young trees grow slowly (10–15 inches / 25–40 cm per year) but establish reliably. Note that the tight columnar habit of young trees broadens progressively over 20–30 years to a dense oval crown 20–30 feet (6–9 m) wide — allow adequate horizontal space at time of planting for long-term use.

Pruning

Prune in late summer through fall (August through November) or in winter dormancy — avoid spring pruning when wounds may attract pests. European hornbeam bleeds less than birches but late-season pruning is still preferable. Minimal structural pruning is required; the tree develops excellent natural form. Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches at the branch collar. 'Fastigiata' rarely requires corrective pruning to maintain its upright-to-oval form. Can be trimmed as a formal hedge or pleached screen — Carpinus betulus hedges and pleached forms are among the most durable for PNW use.

Pruning Schedule

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summerfall

Maintenance Level

very low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic