Carpinus orientalis - oriental hornbeam, hornbeam (forest honeycomb)

Genus of 35 species of deciduous trees native to the woods of Europe, Asia and North America. Carpinus orientalis is a shrub or small deciduous tree up to 6/8 m tall, with rounded foliage in isolated specimens. The bark is smooth greyish, rarely fissured. It has small, alternate leaves with a wavy blade and serrated margin. These are light green in color and turn yellow in the autumn period. At the end of summer it produces characteristic infructescences, initially green, containing numerous small fruits which are achenes partially surrounded by a bract.

Pedoclimatic needs

It adapts to all types of soil, even arid and stony ones, preferring those that tend to be calcareous. It is a more thermophilic and drought-resistant species than the hornbeam and reaches altitudes up to 1000 m only in the south. It grows well in full sun or partial shade. This hornbeam is also very rustic and tolerates frosts well, even intense and persistent ones. Given its limited development, this species is ideal for small public or private gardens. Also widely used for the creation of magnificent bonsai.

Botanical Information

Botanical Name: Carpinus orientalis

Family: Betulaceae