Decorative trees and shrubs. Hornbeam: the most attractive plant species Leaves and bark of hornbeam elm

1. Description
2. Characteristics of wood
3. Black hornbeam

Before using any types of fasteners, preliminary drilling of the material is required. It holds screws and nails perfectly, which is good for securing connections between furniture and complex parts.

When using fresh wood in everyday life, it is recommended to cut and grind the products until the material is dried - in this form it is easier to process.

Despite its natural high density and wear resistance, hornbeam is considered a rather complex and impractical species, as it quickly becomes wet and is prone to damage by fungus and other biological pathogens. It cannot be used without additional etching and finishing and is not suitable for external work. The crimped structure of the fibers and low bonding ability do not allow the use of hornbeam as a structural building material: plywood or laminated veneer lumber. It is not used for outdoor work. Indoors, the hornbeam surface should be covered with protective impregnations and thick layers of varnish. Do not use the material in rooms with high humidity.

Areas and features of application

This wood finds its purpose where resistance to shock loads is needed: in the manufacture of decorative elements, mechanical parts, and sports items. From it they produce:

• golf clubs, billiard cues;
• weaving shuttles;
• agricultural tools;
• bodies and neck elements of violins, guitars, parts of pianos, and other musical instruments;
• cutting boards, knife handles;
• boxes, toys, souvenirs, frames for paintings, panels and photographs;
• furniture, parquet, interior design details.

Thanks to its noble light pearl color and durability, hornbeam wood has high artistic value and is used in creating mosaic designs, friezes and decorative elements.

Hornbeam is used to produce parts for aircraft propellers.

On average, the price for 1 m³ of wood, depending on the manufacturer, is 40,000–46,000 rubles.

It is believed that furniture or decoration made from this type of wood relieves fatigue, gives physical strength, helps coordinate thoughts and actions, and gets rid of bad mood.

Black hornbeam

The light structure of wood with a subtle natural pattern makes it attractive for making various imitations. By pickling the material, black hornbeam is obtained, which is similar in properties and appearance to ebony. For high-quality dyeing, nigrosins are used - special mixtures based on aniline, nitrobenzene and hydrochloric acid, dissolved in water or alcohols. They give the material a clean, bright color that is resistant to direct sunlight. Professional etching involves through coloring of the entire thickness of the material, rather than surface application of paint. It is not recommended to pickle wood yourself, as when using home-made chemical dyes it may lose strength, become loose or unevenly painted. Masterfully crafted, imitated as ebony, black hornbeam has a very dark purple tint that does not fade or fade over time, and does not get dirty due to mechanical impact on the surface. Black hornbeam is sold in small quantities in the form of small bars.

The so-called non-commercial low-grade hornbeam wood is used as a raw material in the hydrolysis production of the chemical industry, for the production of charcoal, and as a fuel material in everyday life.

If used correctly, hornbeam can become an element of a beautiful landscape and serve as a high-quality and exquisite material for the manufacture of interior items or decorations.

Common hornbeam

Hornbeam, in my opinion, is the best for vegetable gardens and country or city gardens. Look at the photo of the hornbeam, this plant by its nature is not a whimsical shrub, but if you buy and plant a special, hybrid variety, you will get a shrub that will be green right until December and even more, will not require frequent watering and fertilizing, and what’s most the main thing is that it will withstand any frost, without special coverings or other pre-winter work.

This is an ordinary hornbeam, which is only slightly genetically corrected, i.e. It is not afraid of winter, otherwise the hornbeam is the same as other shrubs.

Hornbeam tree Homeland In nature, the hornbeam tree grows in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Most types of hornbeam are found in Asia, particularly in China. Form: deciduous tree.

Description

Common hornbeam The genus includes more than 30 species. Hornbeam is a small deciduous tree, less commonly a shrub, with very durable wood. The crown is usually dense and spreading. Hornbeam leaves are alternate, simple, dark green, jagged, pubescent below. Flowers – male and female catkins; the fruit is a nut. The hornbeam cuts very well. Plants are not long-lived.

Common hornbeam photo:

Common hornbeam, or European hornbeam (C. betulus). Medium-sized tree from 5 to 20 m tall; width - from 4 to 8 m. The common hornbeam has an openwork shape; the crown is often ovoid. The branches of the plant form a low, spreading, wide-cylindrical crown. Young shoots of the common hornbeam are pubescent, then bare. The plant grows quite slowly. The leaves of the common hornbeam are oval, pointed, corrugated; in autumn the color changes from dark purple to lemon yellow. The common hornbeam is shade-tolerant. The plant blooms simultaneously with the leaves blooming. In nature it occurs in mixed plantings; in Western, Central and Southern Europe, the Baltic States, Belarus, Ukraine, the mountainous Crimea and the Caucasus.

Heart hornbeam (C. cordata). A very decorative, original tree up to 15 m tall. It is distinguished by delicate, almost transparent leaves and unusual fruits. Hearthornbeam is very shade-tolerant and forms a very dense, low-growing, spreading crown. The leaves are light green, turning pale rusty in autumn. Hearthornbeam grows slowly; in favorable conditions, the plants are long-lasting. In nature, it is found in mixed forests in the south of Primorsky Krai, China, Japan, and Korea.

Carolina hornbeam (C. caroliniana). Tree from 5 to 12 m tall with a dense crown. This type of hornbeam is heat-loving and shade-tolerant, not too winter-hardy. In nature, Carolina hornbeam grows along the banks of rivers in eastern North America.

Caucasian hornbeam (C. caucasia). Tree up to 30 m tall; in nature it is more often found in mixed plantings in the Caucasus, Crimea, and Western Asia. Caucasian hornbeam is not winter-hardy.

Eastern hornbeam, or hornbeam (C. orientalis). A low tree (up to 5, less often 10 m tall) with a wide crown. The winter hardiness of eastern hornbeam is low. It is found naturally in the Crimea, the Caucasus, the Balkans, Asia Minor and Iran.

Turchaninov hornbeam (C. turczaninovii). Small tree up to 5 m tall. Turchaninov's hornbeam reproduces by root shoots, grows slowly, and is not winter-hardy. Found naturally in mountain forests of East Asia.

Where does the hornbeam tree grow - terms and conditions growing

Berso in the form of arches from the common hornbeamHornbeams grow in the sun and in partial shade (mostly shade-tolerant); Prefers fertile soils, from relatively dry to moist, containing lime. The root system of hornbeams is sensitive to compaction, salinity and flooding. On sufficiently moist substrates, hornbeams tolerate high temperatures. The plants are winter-hardy, wind-resistant, and tolerate urban conditions.

Application

All types of hornbeams are decorative, so they can often be seen in summer cottages. Plants will look good in group and solitary plantings. Since hornbeams tolerate pruning and shaping well, they are often used to create high hedges - living walls - and berms. Heartleaf hornbeam can be used to create almost impenetrable hedges.

Hornbeams are unpretentious and do not require special care. It is necessary to ensure that the soil on which the trees grow is moist, so in hot, dry summers the hornbeam needs to be watered. Keep in mind that hornbeams do not grow in wetlands, so they are not planted in lowlands and where large amounts of snow accumulate. The hornbeam can be shaped and lends itself well to pruning.

Reproduction

Hornbeam is propagated both by seeds and vegetatively (cuttings and layering). Seeds are stratified before planting.

Diseases and pests

Hornbeams are very resistant and are almost not affected by pests and diseases.

Popular forms

Decorative forms of common hornbeam:

pyramidal (f. fastigiata) - with a narrow pyramidal, later more cone-shaped crown;

• columnar (f. columnaris) - with a narrower crown than the pyramidal shape of the common hornbeam;
• weeping (f. pendula) - with thin drooping branches;
• notched (f. incisa) - with dissected, narrow, sharp-lobed leaves;
• oakleaf (f. quercifolia) - with small, deep-lobed and broad-toothed leaves;
• purple (f. purpurea) – leaves are initially purple, later green;
• variegated (f. variegata) – with leaves of several shades

Hornbeam - features of the tree and its use.

Hornbeam is a genus of relatively small deciduous trees that belongs to the Birch family. About 40 species of hornbeam grow in the northern hemisphere. Most of them are concentrated in Asia, in particular China. Only two species of this breed can be found in Europe.

Traditionally, hornbeam, which grows in the Caucasus, is used to produce cues for Russian billiards.

The density of hornbeam wood is 750 kg/cub.m. The wood has a smooth and fine texture and a random arrangement of fibers.

The wood has a dull white tint and is often mottled with streaks of grayish color. It is quite hard and heavy, a bit like ash. The main advantage is that it does not wear out for a very long time, and does not crack upon impact. Hornbeam is difficult to cut, so processing it is considered a painstaking task.

This rock is used in cases where it is necessary to achieve high hardness, toughness and impact resistance. Interestingly, interior designers admit that hornbeam is capable of eliminating visual illusions. It is used for the production of individual parts and mechanisms of machines, handles, sports equipment, parquet and, finally, billiard cues.

Freshly cut wood has a moisture level of about 60% with a water absorption capacity of 93%. Hornbeam is a highly drying tree species. Therefore, drying of raw materials should be done extremely carefully. This tree is very capricious and can show its “character” at any moment. It is the tendency to cracking and warping that explains the mild drying regimes of this wood. To achieve dimensional stability of the finished hornbeam product, as well as to prevent cracking and deformation during operation, the wood is subjected to additional processing. In addition, it is recommended to use hornbeam only when indoor humidity is low or medium.

The high wear resistance of hornbeam predetermined its use in the production of parts for certain machines, for example, weaving machines. The material is able to firmly hold screws and nails. According to this indicator, it is four times higher than pine. The propellers of flying model airplanes are made from hornbeam. High decorative qualities allow this wood to be used in furniture production. However, the breed is not widely used in this capacity, since it requires a lot of labor and time to process. Although it is used in the manufacture of artistic parquet, it is true that the coating is used in conditions of low humidity. Hornbeam is suitable for the production of musical instruments (piano parts, piano parts, guitar fingerboards, etc.) and decorative veneer.

In nature, hornbeam is rarely straight-trunked, so it is almost never used in construction. The wood is used to produce ethanol and other chemicals, as well as charcoal and firewood, since the wood produces little soot.

Finishing the rock requires special care, but it lends itself well to polishing. The natural light color of wood allows you to give products different colors. At the same time, you can successfully imitate exotic wood species, for example, ebony. Untreated wood turns yellow over time when exposed to sunlight.

On a cross section you can see wavy growth rings, often varying in width. In the picture of the core, light and slightly curved false-wide rays are clearly visible. From real wide rays, such as those found, for example, in beech or oak, false wide ones are a bunch of narrow rays located close to each other. As a result, the hornbeam develops a soft texture, which is clearly visible after finishing. The shine of the treated wood surface is rather weak.

The beneficial effects of hornbeam on humans are known. It is ideal for those who are very tired at work, and in addition, it promotes a person’s real assessment of the world around him and his own potential. Wood gives strength in everyday life, it is believed that it eliminates ridiculous prejudices and fantasies. Helps people coordinate their actions, understand the illusory nature of some plans and ideas about the future. Hornbeam has a positive effect on romantics and dreamers who lack the strength and desire to act.

This is a beautiful tree that is used to create gardening compositions. It does well in both sun and partial shade. Tolerates frost, windy weather and urban conditions well. It grows in moist soils, so it requires watering during drought. However, you should not grow it in lowlands, wetlands or where snow accumulates in winter.

Hornbeam is used in the production of all billiard cues. Since there is practically no other white wood with the same density. Therefore, today all billiard masters use this wood to create their models. There are different approaches to processing hornbeam. Some craftsmen cut it down, some leave it for a long time.

Cues made from this breed have a magnificent appearance and texture. Caucasian hornbeam gives the cue strength, hardness and abrasion resistance, which is important for frequent games of billiards.

How to use hornbeam wood correctly?

With your own hands

What and how to make a hedge from

For tall hedges

1. Small-leaved and large-leaved linden are tall trees that reach a height of more than 20 meters with a dense, wide-conical crown. The density of the crown, shade tolerance, durability, along with the relatively easy formation make it possible to classify linden as one of the best species for creating high hedges, or rather, for creating “living” walls (bosquets). It is recommended to use it if you need to form a hedge more than 3 meters high.

2. Common hornbeam is the best species for formed tall hedges, as it lends itself well to shaping, has a dense crown shape, and is shade-tolerant. The tall hedges in the Slavy Park and the National Botanical Garden in Kyiv are indicative. It should be noted that both hornbeam and linden require fertile, moist soils for normal growth.

Other species that are not demanding on environmental conditions and from which high hedges can be created include:

rough elm, white and black mulberry, field maple.

As well as species from which you can create tall, thorny hedges:

common hawthorn, as well as Altai, single-stamen, soft; Common honey locust.

Evergreen tall hedges can be created from the following types:

common spruce - very shade-tolerant, but requires moist, fertile soils; Berry yew is the most popular type for evergreen hedges. Although planting material is quite expensive, the durability of yew hedges compensates for the costs. For normal growth requires fertile and moist soils. thuja occidentalis - along with yew, the best coniferous species for creating high and medium-height hedges; common juniper and virginiana are the most drought-resistant species of evergreen species for creating high hedges, but it should be taken into account that the needles of these junipers are quite prickly.

Once on a path in the forest I came across a hornbeam. At first glance, I realized that nature itself (with the help of people and animals) “forms” this plant in the style of a “fallen tree”: a horizontally located stem and branches growing upward from it. I decided why not try to complete what nature started, because someday we need to experience the features of all bonsai styles.

Having studied the excavated plant, I decided that it would be a “raft” of five trees of different heights growing on one trunk. It should have been placed in a pot of suitable length (a plastic container for balcony plants was suitable for this purpose) and given the opportunity to take root. The root system of the dug up hornbeam was severely damaged, but the plant should have been able to cope with it (hornbeams are tenacious). I also decided to root the “fallen trunk” in a place away from the remaining roots. According to my estimates, additional roots along the trunk should have provided more reliable natural adhesion to the soil along the entire length, additional “pumps” for supplying water and nutrients to the leaves.

It would be a good idea to grow roots under the base of the new trunks. For these purposes, square sections of bark with an area of ​​about 1 square meter were cut off on the lower part of the horizontal trunk. cm and stripped down to wood. The sections are sprinkled with root. Actually, the preparations could have been completed here, but our climate is such that in the summer the soil dries out very quickly. Accordingly, successful rooting becomes a big question. It was necessary to somehow protect the soil in the area of ​​root formation from drying out. It was decided to build a “candy” from polyethylene around a horizontal trunk. A layer of soil of about 4 cm was poured onto a piece of polyethylene, pieces of long-fiber moss from the forest, sprinkled with roots, were placed under the cut bark, and wrapped around the trunk. The polyethylene was secured with wire in several places. To keep the soil moist, I inserted a piece of tube into one end of the “candy” through which I watered.

A wire ligature was applied to the outer two small “trees”, with the help of which they were lined up with tall trunks and adjusted in a horizontal position. This should not have been done: the plant overwintered successfully, but these same stems dried up. Still, the rule - not to torture Yamadori* in the first year of life with various bonsai techniques - worked, and part of the composition was lost. Perhaps this was due to the wire squeezing the trunk (it was impossible to control because part of the trunk was in “candy”), or perhaps the hornbeam’s ability to dry out some of the young shoots in the spring was manifested.

During the spring and summer, the “candy” was first moistened with auxin solutions, and then liquid fertilizers were added. The hornbeam overwintered on a glazed balcony at temperatures from -7 (for a short time) to +10 degrees. Almost natural natural conditions.

The next spring, before the sap began to flow, the “candy” was eagerly dismantled. It was then that the death of the outermost trunks was discovered. Otherwise, the experiment was more or less successful: a thick “beard” of roots was obtained from the opposite part of the horizontal trunk.

Now the plant is transplanted into the same box and lives on the balcony. Well, instead of five trees, there were three left on the raft. Let's see how the plant behaves next. Maybe I’ll put someone else in touch with him. Or maybe I’ll just let it grow even taller and leave this number of trunks.

P.S. This method of obtaining roots in the right place is also successfully used when carrying out air layering on a plant located far from you, and you cannot constantly monitor the soil moisture.

The only thing worth taking care of is watering. If your climate has frequent rains in the spring and summer, then you can put a funnel on a piece of tube to collect water. If the summer is dry, like ours, then we can recommend the following irrigation device that I use. We take a cap from a one and a half liter plastic bottle and drill a hole in it with a diameter of about 4-5 mm. We insert a needle from a disposable syringe into the hole, preferably not a thin one. We glue the needle to the lid or seal it with plastic. Pour water into the bottle, screw on the cap, and turn the bottle upside down.

Water begins to drip from the needle. I hope the operating principle is clear - the drier the soil and the higher the water column, the faster the “drops”. The only problem is that the needle gets clogged with soil when it is inserted into the “candy”. But if, when inserting a needle into the soil, you slightly squeeze the bottle, then clogging does not occur, since the water pushes out small particles of earth. All that remains is to secure the bottle so that it does not fall from gusts of wind.

hornbeam tree, common hornbeam photo, hornbeam tree where it grows

The hornbeam tree is a representative of the birch trees. Asia and China are considered the birthplace of hornbeam. The plant loves light and sun rays, but it also feels great in the shade and in strong winds. In order for the hornbeam to grow well, it needs well-moistened, fairly loose and fertile soil. It needs to be watered constantly if rainfall is rare. Hornbeam can reach a maximum height of up to 30 meters, and its lifespan reaches almost 3 centuries. This tree can be planted using seeds or cuttings.

Figure 1. Hornbeam is a very unpretentious and durable tree that grows quickly and reaches a height of 30 m.

Description of the tree and growing conditions

The height of the tree can vary in size from 5 to 30 meters, and the width of the hornbeam grows up to 8 meters. The hornbeam has a different crown, it all depends on the type of tree: it can be dense, spreading or openwork. The leaves are dark green and turn yellow or purple in the fall. The bark is smooth and usually light in color. The hornbeam can bloom, and its earring-shaped flowers are divided into male and female. The tree begins to bloom when the leaves bloom in the spring. After flowering, small fruits similar to small nuts are formed. But the hornbeam begins to bear fruit after reaching 15-20 years of age.

A tree called hornbeam grows in Asia and China, but some species can be found in Belarus, Europe and even the Baltic countries. Its habitat is usually open forest edges, coniferous forests and well-lit slopes. In forests, hornbeam coexists well with oak and beech. In artificial conditions it gets along with jasmine and juniper. Although hornbeam loves well-moistened soil, it does not like heavily flooded and watery areas. The tree does not favor compaction in the soil. It is quite resistant to drought, but in very hot weather the hornbeam requires abundant watering. It is also frost resistant. It survives well in city conditions. Hornbeam copes well with diseases or pests. (Fig. 1)

Typically, hornbeam trees do not require particularly careful care. But during planting, the soil must be prepared in advance and sufficiently moistened. The crown of the tree needs trimming. It is easy to shape, and due to the slow growth of the tree, the shape of the crown remains in beautiful condition for quite a long period. To propagate hornbeam, seeds or cuttings, as well as layering, are required. Before planting, seeds must be stratified in two stages at different temperatures and times. It is necessary to plant seeds in the fall so that the first shoots appear by spring. You can store the seeds for 3 years by placing them in a dry, tightly closed container or bag. When trees are planted from cuttings, they take root very quickly.

The use of hornbeam in the landscape and beyond

Hornbeam is perfectly used in landscape design, as well as for other purposes. In ancient times, this tree was used on the farm for various purposes: as coal for a brazier, for example. The flame produced by burning hornbeam does not produce smoke. Therefore, hornbeam firewood was successfully used in pottery workshops and bakeries. Handles for knives and axes, and hair combs were also made from it.

Figure 2. Hornbeam is widely used in landscaping and is often used as a hedge.

Now many people use these trees to decorate their areas near their homes. The crown of the hornbeam lends itself well to pruning, and these trees can decorate the yard either individually or in a group. Landscape designers use hornbeams to create alleys, hedges, beautiful squares and parks. Since the tree grows slowly, there is no need to treat the crown frequently. With the help of small trees you can decorate an office space or apartment. A hornbeam in a pot will be an excellent gift for lovers of fresh flowers and plants.

Currently, hornbeam wood is widely used in the manufacture of many things in everyday use: kitchen cutting boards, shovels and rakes for the garden, parquet and other floor coverings and even cues for playing billiards, not to mention the production of furniture, which is very durable and lasts quite a long time. Although hornbeam wood is popular, it is difficult to carve and polish due to its susceptibility to moisture. When painted, wood behaves normally, but if not treated with a special anti-rot agent, it can deteriorate.

The bark of the hornbeam is used for tanning hides, and the leaves of the tree are an excellent food for livestock. Even in modern cosmetology, hornbeam has found its use. Its bark and leaves are used to extract essential oil. And the oil that is obtained from fruits and nuts can be eaten.

Creating hedges

To create beautiful hedges, you can use various forms in the form of borders or walls. Each form of hornbeam hedge is distinguished by its beauty and uniqueness. Hedges in the form of borders have the appearance of low green small plantings that grow in height to a maximum of half a meter. The width does not exceed 30 cm, and the plants are located very closely to each other. To ensure that the shape of the borders is always the same, it is necessary to take care of them by trimming them regularly. A hedge in the form of borders can be created from small varieties of hornbeam. This type of fence is well used for fencing flower beds, lawns or paths. In such a case, this decoration acts solely as a decorative fence.

Hornbeam can be used to create hedges of medium height, no more than two meters. This type of fence is used to divide an area into small areas. The hornbeam requires minimal care, and due to its slow growth, it will be necessary to trim and shape the crown quite rarely. Such a fence can protect the area from noise, hide it from prying eyes and help refresh the air with its fragrance. (Fig. 2)

A fence in the form of a wall is usually more than two meters high.

Such walls are used to decorate and fence parks, alleys and large areas of private houses.

The seedlings are planted in a row with a distance of about 30 cm.

A hedge in the form of a wall can also be created from hornbeam. There are varieties of trees that grow tall, but have a crown that is just as easy to care for and slow-growing.

Using common hornbeam will be an excellent solution for creating a high living wall. The crown of this type of hornbeam allows you to make a solid wall, which will protect the area from prying eyes.

A plant called hornbeam is an excellent option for creating hedges of various shapes and heights.

It is completely unpretentious in care, survives well in shady areas and in the hot sun, can protect against excess noise and dust and can refresh and purify the air. Usually, for hedges, hornbeam is planted in several dense rows (about 2-3 rows). Caring for hedges made from hornbeam is rarely required.

A little about the varieties

In nature, there are several varieties of hornbeam. The most common one is the common hornbeam. This species is perfect for decorating a garden or area near the house. It is often planted in forest parks, alleys and gardens. Hedges made from common hornbeam look very beautiful and unusual. This tree looks no less beautiful in a single copy. The common hornbeam is a tree that reduces the noise level in the bustle of the city.

The crown of the common hornbeam can naturally have different shapes. The following varieties are distinguished:

Figure 3. Heartleaf hornbeam combines well with coniferous trees in the landscape.

• weeping, whose branches are thin;
• pyramidal - is a straight tree and has a narrow crown;
• columnar - similar to pyramidal, but the crown is slightly narrower;
• oakleaf, which has small leaves with wide teeth;
• carved, the leaves of which are narrow;
• purple, that is, changing color: purple leaves become green over time.

In eastern North America you can find another variety of hornbeam - Carolina hornbeam. It grows on the outskirts of swamps and river banks. Loves moist soil. This type of hornbeam grows up to 6 m in height, but there are specimens up to 12 meters. If it suffers from low temperatures, it begins to grow in the form of a bush. This type of hornbeam blooms in May, and the fruits ripen by mid-September or a little later. When planted using seeds, germination is quite low, as is the case when planted by cuttings.

Caucasian hornbeam grows in Crimea, Asia or the Caucasus. It can usually be seen in the mountains at an altitude of more than 1000 meters above sea level. Often found in mixed forests, and hornbeam forests are created quite rarely. The Caucasian hornbeam reaches a height of 35 meters. It does not like frost, and if it freezes, it begins to grow as a bush. This type of hornbeam cannot bloom and does not bear fruit.

Another variety of hornbeam is heartleaf. It usually grows in China, Japan or Korea; in Russia it is found in the Primorsky Territory. It can often be found in the mountain area; it does well in shady places. The heartleaf hornbeam is a very beautiful tree. It has interesting foliage and unusual fruits. Goes well with coniferous trees. (Fig. 3)

This type of hornbeam has a low, dense crown. The tree got its name because of the beautiful shape of its leaves, which resemble a heart. When the leaves begin to bloom, they have a light green tint, and by autumn they turn red. Fruits appear only after 20 years of existence. This species is very unpretentious to soil quality and is not afraid of strong winds due to its large root system. By the age of 50, it begins to dry out a little, but can live for 200 years.

Hornbeam. Carpinus. Birch family.
The hornbeam genus includes over 30 species growing in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere.

Deciduous trees, less often shrubs, with strong shoots and very hard wood. alternate, dark green, pubescent below. Hornbeam flowers dioecious, without perianth. The fruit is a flattened, broadly ovoid, longitudinally ribbed nut. All types are decorative. They tolerate haircuts well. They are used in single and group plantings in parks and forests, and when creating large hedges.

Common hornbeam

It grows in Western, Central and Southern Europe, the Baltic States, Belarus, Ukraine, the mountainous Crimea and the Caucasus, where it forms the second tier in mixed plantings. Protected in nature reserves. Grows in a mixture with beech and oak on mountain slopes. Restorative, very shade-tolerant mesophyte, mesotherm, mesotroph, progressive edificator, especially anthropogenically progressive. Widely distributed in culture in the collections of botanical gardens and in the landscaping of cities in southern Europe and the Caucasus.

Hornbeam beautiful tree up to 25 m tall, with a compact crown and smooth, silver-gray bark. The trunk is often ribbed-angular, smooth at the top and deeply cracked at the bottom. The branches form a low, spreading, wide-cylindrical crown. Young shoots with silky pubescence, later bare, shiny, brown, with white lentils. The leaves are oval, pointed, corrugated from protruding veins, dark green above; in autumn their color changes from dark purple to lemon yellow. It blooms simultaneously with the leaves blooming. Men's earrings are up to 6 cm long, women's earrings are short and compact. By the time the fruits ripen, they lengthen to 15 cm and consist of numerous dry, three-lobed bracts, with which oval, brown-gray, shiny, small, ribbed nuts are fused.

Hornbeam is shade-tolerant, has average requirements for fertility and soil moisture, and is winter-hardy. Begins to bear fruit at 15-20 years of age. Almost not damaged by pests and diseases. In culture it is propagated by seeds, which are stratified in two stages: for 15-60 days at a temperature of 20°C and for 90-120 days at a temperature of 1-10°C. Seed germination rate is 40%. 55% of cuttings take root when treated with a 0.01% IBA solution for 16 hours.

For decorative purposes, it is widely used in parks, squares, forest parks, in single and group plantings, and is especially good for creating dense hedges. It is one of the breeds that most effectively reduces urban noise. Thanks to its slow growth, it retains its shape given when pruned for a long time, which allows its use to be expanded. In culture since ancient times.

Decorative forms of hornbeam

Hornbeam tree has a number of decorative forms: pyramidal (f. fastigiata) - upright, with a narrow pyramidal crown; columnar (f. columnaris) - with an even narrower crown; weeping (f. pendula) - with thin drooping branches; notched (f. incisa) - with narrower than typical, deeply acute-lobed leaves; oakleaf (f. quercifolia) - with smaller leaves, deep-lobed and wide-toothed; purple (f. purpurea) - with young purple leaves that later turn green.

"Fastigiata". Tree with a pyramidal crown. Often cultivated in botanical gardens in Europe and the Caucasus.

"Incisa". A tree with sharply lobed leaves that are narrower than those of the species. Grown in collections of botanical gardens. In GBS since 1954, 2 samples (6 copies) were grown from planting material obtained from Warsaw and Kaliningrad. After freezing in the winter of 1978/79, they grow in a bushy manner, height 7.7 m, crown diameter 530 cm. It grows in the same time frame as the main species. The growth rate is average. Doesn't bloom. Propagated by grafting. Winter hardiness is average.

"Quercifolia". A tree with significantly smaller and notched leaves than the type. Plants grow in a bush-like manner, height 5.0 m, crown diameter 300 cm. It grows in the same time frame as the main species. The growth rate is average. Doesn't bloom. Propagated by grafting. Winter hardiness is average.

"Variegata". Tree with variegated foliage. Grown in collections of botanical gardens. It grows in a bushy manner, height 8.0 m, crown diameter 800 cm. Growth rate is average. Doesn't bloom. Propagated by grafting. Winter hardiness is average.

var. virginiana (March.) Fern. - G.k. Virginia. Tree up to 12 m tall. In the southeast of North America within the range of the main species. Mesophyte, mesotherm, mesotroph. In cultivation in the collections of botanical gardens in Europe and North America. In GBS since 1967, 1 sample (4 copies) was grown from seeds received from Ottawa. After freezing in the winter of 1978/79, it grows bush-like, height 3.9 m, crown diameter 400 cm. It vegetates, blooms and bears fruit in the same periods as the original species. The growth rate is average. Winter hardiness is average. Seed germination is average. Can be used to a limited extent for landscaping in Moscow.

Caucasian hornbeam

Crimea, Caucasus, Western Asia. In the mountains up to 1000 m above sea level. sea, rarely forms pure forests, common in the second tier of pyroleaved forests. Shade-tolerant mesophyte, mesotherm, mesotroph, usectator of broad-leaved forests, edifier of secondary forests. In cultivation in botanical gardens of the Caucasus, southern Europe, Central Asia, it is found in the landscaping of southern cities.

Tree up to 30-35 m tall. In GBS since 1951, 7 samples (27 copies) were grown from seeds obtained from botanical gardens of the Caucasus and natural habitats, as well as from seedlings brought from the Crimea and the Caucasus. After significant freezing in the winter of 1978/79, they grow in a bushy manner, height 7.1 m, crown diameter 420 cm. Grows from early May to early October. The growth rate is average. Doesn't bloom. Winter hardiness is low.

Heart hornbeam

In nature, it grows in the second tier of shady, mixed forests in the south of the Primorsky Territory, China, Japan, and Korea. Protected in nature reserves. Grows in the second tier of coniferous-deciduous forests, in the foothills up to 250-300 m. Restorative, very shade-tolerant mesophyte, mesotherm, eutrophic, dominant of the second tier. In cultivation in the collections of botanical gardens in Europe, the Far East, Siberia and Central Asia.

A beautiful and very unique deciduous tree up to 15 m tall, extremely desirable in landscaping, decorative with delicate, almost transparent foliage in the sun and original fruits. Heartleaf hornbeam is very good in compositional groups with coniferous species. The crown is spreading, low-hanging, very dense. The bark is silver-gray, deeply fissured. Young shoots and leaf petioles are initially hairy, then glabrous, with numerous lentils. ovoid or oblong-ovate, pointed and narrowly heart-shaped at the base, up to 12 cm long, irregularly biserrate along the edge. In spring and summer the leaves are light green, in autumn they are reddish or pale rusty. Men's earrings are up to 8 cm long, on densely hairy legs. Fruiting catkins are very similar to hop cones, green, thick, drooping, up to 25 cm long. The fruit is a dark brown nut. .

It is unpretentious to soils, the root system is superficial, highly branched, which provides it with good wind resistance. Tolerates heavy shade, developing a spreading, low crown. It does not form a straight trunk and by the age of 50 it begins to dry up. In favorable conditions it lives up to 200 years. Wind resistant. It grows slowly and tolerates cutting and replanting well. Easy to divorce.

Carolina hornbeam

Tree from 5 to 12 m tall with a dense crown. This type of hornbeam is heat-loving and shade-tolerant, not too winter-hardy. In nature, Carolina hornbeam grows along the banks of rivers in eastern North America.
seeds and layering, root shoots, can produce an almost impenetrable hedge. In culture since 1879.

Hornbeam Turchaninova

East Asia. Grows in mountain forests. Mesophyte, mesotherm. In cultivation since 1889, it is rarely grown in the collections of botanical gardens in Europe.
Tree up to 5 m tall. Grows from mid-May to mid-October. The growth rate is low. Doesn't bloom. Reproduces by root shoots. Winter hardiness is low.

Hornbeam care

Hornbeams are unpretentious and do not require special care. It is necessary to ensure that the soil on which the trees grow is moist, so in hot, dry summers the hornbeam needs to be watered. Keep in mind that hornbeams do not grow in wetlands, so they are not planted in lowlands and where large amounts of snow accumulate. Hornbeam It can be shaped and lends itself well to pruning.

Family: birch (Betulaceae).

Motherland

In nature, the hornbeam tree grows in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Most hornbeam species are found in Asia, particularly China.

Form: deciduous tree.

Description

The genus includes more than 30 species. Hornbeam is a small deciduous tree, less commonly a shrub, with very durable wood. The crown is usually dense and spreading. Hornbeam leaves are alternate, simple, dark green, jagged, pubescent below. Flowers - male and female catkins; the fruit is a nut. The hornbeam cuts very well. Plants are not long-lived.

, or European hornbeam (C. betulus). Medium-sized tree from 5 to 20 m tall; width - from 4 to 8 m. The common hornbeam has an openwork shape; the crown is often ovoid. The branches of the plant form a low, spreading, wide-cylindrical crown. Young shoots of the common hornbeam are pubescent, then bare. The plant grows quite slowly. The leaves of the common hornbeam are oval, pointed, corrugated; in autumn the color changes from dark purple to lemon yellow. The common hornbeam is shade-tolerant. The plant blooms simultaneously with the leaves blooming. In nature it occurs in mixed plantings; in Western, Central and Southern Europe, the Baltic States, Belarus, Ukraine, the mountainous Crimea and the Caucasus.

(C. cordata). A very decorative, original tree up to 15 m tall. It is distinguished by delicate, almost transparent leaves and unusual fruits. Hearthornbeam is very shade-tolerant and forms a very dense, low-growing, spreading crown. The leaves are light green, turning pale rusty in autumn. Hearthornbeam grows slowly; in favorable conditions, the plants are long-lasting. In nature, it is found in mixed forests in the south of Primorsky Krai, China, Japan, and Korea.

Carolina hornbeam (C. caroliniana). Tree from 5 to 12 m tall with a dense crown. This type of hornbeam is heat-loving and shade-tolerant, not too winter-hardy. In nature, Carolina hornbeam grows along the banks of rivers in eastern North America.

Caucasian hornbeam (C. caucasia). Tree up to 30 m tall; in nature it is more often found in mixed plantings in the Caucasus, Crimea, and Western Asia. Caucasian hornbeam is not winter-hardy.

Eastern hornbeam , or picker (C. orientalis). A low tree (up to 5, less often 10 m tall) with a wide crown. The winter hardiness of eastern hornbeam is low. It is found naturally in the Crimea, the Caucasus, the Balkans, Asia Minor and Iran.

Hornbeam Turchaninov (C. turczaninovii). Small tree up to 5 m tall. Turchaninov's hornbeam reproduces, grows slowly, and is not winter-hardy. Found naturally in mountain forests of East Asia.

Growing conditions

Hornbeams grow in sun and partial shade (mostly shade-tolerant); Prefers fertile soils, from relatively dry to moist, containing lime. The root system of hornbeams is sensitive to compaction, salinity and flooding. On sufficiently moist substrates, hornbeams tolerate high temperatures. The plants are winter-hardy, wind-resistant, and tolerate urban conditions.

Application

All types of hornbeams are decorative, so they can often be seen in summer cottages. Plants will look good in group plantings. Since hornbeams tolerate molding well, they are often used to create high - living walls - and. Almost impenetrable trees can be created from heartleaf hornbeam.

Care

Hornbeams are unpretentious and do not require special care. It is necessary to ensure that the soil on which the trees grow is moist, so in hot, dry summers the hornbeam needs to be watered. Keep in mind that hornbeams do not grow in wetlands, so they are not planted in or where large amounts of snow accumulate. The hornbeam can be shaped and lends itself well to pruning.

Reproduction

Hornbeam is propagated both by seeds and vegetatively ( and ). Seeds before planting.

Diseases and pests

Hornbeams are very resistant and are almost not affected by pests and diseases.

Popular forms

Decorative forms of common hornbeam:

pyramidal (f. fastigiata) - with a narrow pyramidal, later more cone-shaped crown;

columnar (f. columnaris) - with a narrower crown than the pyramidal shape of the common hornbeam;

weeping (f. pendula) - with thin drooping branches;

cut (f. incisa) - with dissected, narrow, sharp-lobed leaves;

oakleaf (f. quercifolia) - with small, deep-lobed and broad-toothed leaves;

purple (f. purpurea) - leaves are initially purple, later green;

variegated (f. variegata) - with leaves of several shades.