Gnarled and mighty , the hornbeam is as tough as they descend . It ’s beautiful , utilitarian , and its class - bout leaf covering fire makes it a winter oasis for wildlife .
The common hornbeam is a broadleaf tree diagram that loses its leaves in the fall . Its bark is pale gray with vertical lines running through it , and the trunk is sometimes brusk and twisted , but it gets rooftree over time . The twigs are chocolate-brown - gray and a little hairy , and the leaf buds look like beech bud , but they are short and a trivial curve at the ends . fledged Tree can pass on a height of 30 megabyte and survive for more than 300 years .
Watch out for foliage that look pleated and a germ that calculate like a small nut and is 3–6 millimetre long . It is held in place by a leafy bract with three lobes . distinguish in wintertime by : distinctive , papery seeds hang in tiered bunch through autumn . Leaf buds are pressed intimately to the sprig .
Beech and hornbeam are two of the most democratic choices for hedging in garden and landscape painting , Both are attractive native tree diagram with foliage that provides concealment and screens , But there are some noted differences between these two authoritative hedge plants ,
Foliage Appearance
Beech leave are glossy and oval with finely rippled edges . The foliage is thin and smooth .
Hornbeam leaves have a matte finish and deeply etched leaf vein The leave-taking have toothed edge and a leathery texture
In fall , beech foliage turns hopeful coppery shades of orange , red-faced and yellow before descend .
Hornbeam leave behind fade to muted yellow - dark-brown hues in fall before dropping
Leaf Retention
Beech keep on its leaves later on into wintertime . The farewell dry and turn over bronze but continue on the branches , bring home the bacon winter masking .
Hornbeam drops its leaves in the first place in autumn and holds little leafage through the winter . It tender less winter privateness than beech .
Bark Features
Mature beech trunk have smooth , silvery - gray barque with piffling fissuring . The branching form is refined .
Hornbeam bark is gray too , but has a twisted , muscular look with knobbly twigs and small branch .
Soil Tolerances
Beech strongly dislike soggy soil and is intolerant of sites with poor drainage .
Hornbeam adapts better to damp dirt , though still avoids quaggy conditions . It ’s more tolerant of Henry Clay soil .
Growth Rate and Pruning Needs
Beech is a tedious growing hedging plant life , adding 30 - 60 cm of ontogenesis per class . It only needs light pruning once a class .
Hornbeam grows more quickly , up to 90 cm annually . It want clip double annually to keep it tidy .
Mature Size and Lifespan
Beech tree can grow very enceinte , up to 30 m tall . Mature trees live up to 300 years .
Hornbeam reaches heights of around 20 - 25 m. Its lifespan is poor at around 150 age .
Climate Preferences
Beech prefers warmer climates . It sputter in areas prostrate to previous bounce Robert Frost .
Hornbeam tolerates cold better . It prosper further north than beechwood can grow .
Ideal Growing Conditions
For Beech:
For Hornbeam:
Susceptibility to Issues
Beech has no serious cuss or disease problems . unseasoned trees may demand protective cover from cervid browse .
Hornbeam is also pest and disease resistant . It is hard to transplant so plant it correctly the first meter .
Ornamental Qualities
Beech provides excellent nightfall color . Some cultivated form have violet or tricolored leaves .
Hornbeam is not grow for its floral showing . It is take account more for the misrepresented trunks and muscle branches .
Both make beautiful courtly hedging lines and pleach arrangements .
Choosing the Best Hedge
Beech and hornbeam each have merits as hedging plants . count your specific uprise weather and needs when deciding . Beech offers better screening year - round . Hornbeam is quicker maturate and more shade liberal . Both lend a refined , ornate feel to gardens when cut . merge the two together for sum interest .
Not to be confused with:
Common beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) . The hornbeam ’s double serrated leaf edges help to tell them apart . Beech has crinkly edges , not toothed .
Trees woods and wildlife
Download our free Tree ID app for Android and iPhone to name the UKs native and non - native trees . Its an A - Z tree guide in your air pocket .
People in Valenciennes , Northern France , used to allow a hornbeam branch at their sweetheart ’s door as a star sign of love .
What does hornbeam look like?
Credit : Deborah Morris / WTML
A similar shape to beech folio – oval with pointed tips . The edges of hornbeam leaves are fine toothed , while the edges of beech leaves are crinkly . The hornbeam leaves are smaller and have deeper crease than the beech leave . They become golden yellow to orange in colour in autumn and most stay on through the wintertime .
Credit : Nature Photographers Ltd / WTML
Hornbeam is monoecious , mean male and female catkins are found on the same tree .
Credit : FLPA / Alamy Stock Photo
After pollenation by fart , distaff catkins develop into papery , green wing fruits , sleep with as samaras .
Comparison of Beech and Hornbeam tree features. O
FAQ
How can you tell a hornbeam from a beech ?
Which is good , beech or hornbeam ?
What are the bunko of hornbeam ?
What is another name for a hornbeam tree diagram ?
What is the difference between beech and hornbeam ?
Both provide nutrient for foraging birds and small mammalian when their ament appear each bounce . Differences : Beech leaves are glossier , fragile and smoother with wavy edges – Hornbeam is matt green with deeply - etched veins and toothed edging . Winter Beech leaves are bright copper – Hornbeam foliage is a darker , grey - brown .
Which is respectable hornbeam or beech hedgerow ?
Because then the hornbeam grows new , unripened leaves quicker than the beech hedge ( Fagus Sylvatica or Green Beech ) . Enjoyable when it ’s outside season . The leave of the beech hedging are shining and are smoother than the leaves of its fellow traveler , the hornbeam . Do you care bolshie ? Then you could also pick out the reddish version of the beech hedge .
What does a hornbeam tree diagram look like ?
Winter Beech leaves are bright copper – Hornbeam foliage is a darker , grey-headed - brown . Beech does n’t like dampish soil – Hornbeam can make out with moist soil but loathes waterlogged sites . Beech is more drouth broad than Hornbeam .
What is the difference between a hornbeam and a beechnut ?
Hornbeam fruit are immature and grow in the form of grape , while beechnut are brown and stand solitary . The trunks of the untried trees are still relatively similar . Later , a beech can be agnize by its very smooth , loose gray trunk . Hornbeam trunks are brownish and much more haywire .
