BOTANICAL: Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata'

PRONOUNCED: kar-PINE-us BET-yoo-lus fas-tij-ee-AY-tuh

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COMMON: Upright European hornbeam BLOOMS BERRIES LIGHT ZONE Male/yellow or female/green Red Full sun to part shade 4 - 8 SIZE: 30 ft. - 40 ft. x 20 ft. - 30 ft. TYPE: Deciduous shrub CLIPPING/SHEARING: First in the spring then throughout the growing season to maintain desired neatness. PRUNING: It responds very well to hard pruning when grown as a hedge, and can be maintained at an 8 ft. - 10 ft. height. USE: A bold, large, formal or informal hedge or screen. SOIL: Does best in deep, moist, well-drained loamy soil. COMMENTS: If the hedge remains unclipped, male catkins develop which are yellowish, or female catkins which are greenish. The fruits are small nutlets in 3-lobed bracts that appear in drooping 5-inch long clusters in summer. Betulus is the genus name for birch in reference to the birch-like characteristics of this species. It is shallow-rooted and branches low to the ground. Note that C. betulus 'Columnaris' and C. betulus 'Fastigiata' are two columnar cultivars often times confused in the trade. Very narrow when young but broadening slightly with age. If planted 3 ft. apart it will make a good tall screen with a minimal maintenance of pruning.