Why Plant Columnar European Hornbeam?
If clean lines and simple, uncluttered landscapes appeal to you, then Columnar European Hornbeam is your kind of tree. This stately, medium-sized ornamental tree grows naturally into a perfect, manicured-looking, wide-oval form without any pruning at all. A row of Hornbeams makes an elegant living wall, and this long-lived, resilient tree accepts heavy shearing if you decide to keep it clipped as a hedge. Columnar Hornbeam’s thick shell of foliage will give you privacy screening for a long season, as the leaves hold late in the year. Before dropping, though, the foliage turns warm shades of gold and topaz—befitting a regal and refined tree such as this.
Because of its rock-hard wood (“horn” alludes to hardness, while “beam” is an Old English word for “tree”), Hornbeam has played many roles in human life. Through the ages, it has found its way into tool handles, butcher blocks, spokes, yokes, and piano keys. These days, it is more likely to live out its days as a hedge or screen. Often planted on the grounds of royals, this tree lends an air of sophistication to any home, indicating that a person of exquisite taste must certainly reside within!
How to use Columnar European Hornbeam in the landscape?
Planning a formal-looking landscape design? Then you must incorporate this tree. It has a distinct, bold shape and attractive yellow leaves in the autumn. Its bold shape and very uniform, upright growth place it in a class of its own. Also makes a unique street tree.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
How To Plant Columnar European Hornbeam
Columnar Hornbeam likes full sun to partial shade. It will even survive in deeper shade but will not perform satisfactorily as a screening plant in those conditions. It is adaptable to most soil types as long as the soil is well drained. Otherwise, this tree is low maintenance and easy to please. It can even play the part of hard-knock city tree, shrugging off pollution, poor soil, and drought.
How To Water
Water twice weekly for the first 3-5 weeks; then water weekly for the remainder of the year until winter. When you water, water very slowly and very thoroughly. The water needs to reach to the bottom of the root ball and that takes time. Watering needs may be altered due to extreme weather conditions.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant Food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant Food granular form on an annual basis each fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established as it gives your tree the nutrients it needs to produce lush new growth for the following spring.
How To Prune
A caveat: that slender, young Columnar European Hornbeam will get big—40 feet tall and 25 feet wide. It’s not a fast growing tree, so it won’t happen overnight, but if you plan on keeping this plant at a certain size, be prepared to do some clipping. Little pruning is needed on your Columnar European Hornbeam. But still, prune in late fall through mid winter to avoid 'bleeding'.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
