Ostrya carpinifolia - Hop Hornbeam - €8 per plant

Ostrya Carpinifolia, also known as Hop Hornbeam, is a beautiful catkin producing tree suitable as an ornamental for gardens or for a woodland garden. It makes a great landscape or street tree, developing lovely coppery red leaves in the autumn that stay on the tree for some time. Likes a warm and sheltered site and grows in any soil. It's a good wildlife tree attracting many pollinators. Produces excellent firewood. A good polyculture plant, growing well with Cornus mas and Corylus avellana. To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: Much of Europe to the Balkans, Caucasian countries  and W. Asia.
  • native habitat: Deciduous forests and scrub, open pine forests, very often on dry and stony limestone hills from 50 - 1700 metres in Turkey
  • family: Betulaceae

Pest and Predators

  • Botryosphaeria fungus can cause dieback​​

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Semi-shade or Full sun
  • soil pH: Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 - 9
  • Prefers dry or moist soil
  • Can tolerate drought
  • Can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure
  • ​Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus

Known hazards 


  • None known

Overview


  • Deciduous Tree growing to 15 m by 15 m at a slow rate ​
  • It is in flower in April
  • Seeds ripen September - October
  • The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant).
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline
  • It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or full sun.
  •  It prefers moist or dry soil.

Characteristics

  • form: Deciduous Tree
  • layer : Understory
  • habit: Broadly conical, Rounded
  • height (m): 15

Products & Uses

  • Flowers: The flowers are produced in spring at the same time as the leaf buds. Male catkins are loner at around 5-10cm  and female catkins 2-5cm long. 
  • Seeds: Fruit forms in pendulous clusters and in each husk forms a small almond-shaped seed. Although not commonly documented as edible, while researching this profile we found this experience from a forager.
  • Wood: The wood of the hop-hornbeam is very hard and heavy and lends itself very well to make charcoal. It makes excellent firewood that produces intense heat.
  • Leaves: Oval, green, double serrated with an attractive yellowing in autumn.
  • Medicinal Uses: Reports of infusions made with the bark for topical application to resolve  aches and pains.

Functions, behaviours

  • Hosting trees of the white truffle (Tuber magnatum)
  • Good wildlife tree - Birds enjoy its leafy canopy and the catkins attract pollinators.
  • In the northernmost part of its range this species behaves more like a light-demanding pioneer favouring sunny and warm places, while in the southernmost countries it grows better in semi-shaded and  humid locations
If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project