Belongs to: woodland

Hornbeam Carpinus betulus


Best time to see: all year

Key facts

A spreading tree with smooth silver-grey bark, growing up to 25m

A woodland tree, preferring damp, heavy soils, widely planted to harvest for firewood and charcoal

Often coppiced or pollarded, forming trees with huge stools or huge swollen boles


© Owen Keen

© Tony Gunton