Carpinus betulus C45 HS Pleached 12/14 180cm stem 150x120

Carpinus betulus (European hornbeam) is a dependable, deciduous tree valued for its dense green foliage and excellent response to pruning, making it a classic choice for formal screening and structured gardens. This pleached form is supplied on an approx. 180cm clear stem with a trained head around 150 x 120cm, ideal for creating elegant, space-saving panels. Hornbeam thrives in full sun to light shade, is well-suited to fertile, well-drained to moist soils, and is notably tolerant of both clay and chalk. Expect fresh green leaves in spring and summer, turning yellow in autumn. Regular light trimming will keep the framework neat and effective for screening. Fully hardy and reliable, it’s a superb option for architectural and formal designs.

This tree has been trained to grow flat along a frame, creating a neat, structured shape that is ideal for screening or narrow spaces. Where supplied on a clear stem, the tree was grown to this stem height and then pruned to stop the trunk growing taller. The stem height will remain as supplied, with growth continuing from the trained framework above.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Full sun to light shade

Rate of Growth: Moderate to fast

Soil: Fertile, well-drained to moist; tolerant of clay and chalk

Hardiness: Fully hardy

Plant at a Glance