Hornbeam - Premium
Carpinus BetulusClosely related to beech trees, Hornbeam is a bit more adaptable to soil situations. If kept trimmed Hornbeam makes an excellent hedge which, although it drops more leaf than Beech, is more than made up for in in its extra twiggyness and by the fact that it is a much quicker grower and much more tolerant of a wider range of soils including heavy damp ones. Soft, mid-green leaves turn golden yellow in autumn, then brown for winter (a percentage of leaves are retained in winter giving an "everbrown" characteristic which is useful for screening and privacy), and then leafing-up over a month earlier in spring than Beech with bright, vivid green soft leaves in spring.
This is offered as an almost instant hedge 200cm tall which will fill out to its finished form within one year. For immediate density we recomend planting them at a spacing of 55-65cm (stem to stem), but if time allows you can increase this distance somewhat to reduce the overall spend per metre. Hornbeam is an excellent hedging choice where privacy is required but the conditions are too damp for evergreens to thrive.
Available as a trimmed hedging block 200cm+ tall as a wire-wrapped rootball from our fields during dormancy (winter).