Carpinus betulus
common hornbeam - 60-80cm tall (2 years old bare root hedging)
This shrub is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
Our bare root hedging range is a very low cost way of planting a hedge. These plants are only available to buy and plant when dormant (November-March). These plants, with known seed provenance, are grown in rich Herefordshire soil to give them the best possible start in life so they are rearing to go by the time they reach you.
Our plants are 2 years old (1+1) which means they have been grown for 1 year in the seed bed then lifted and grown on for another 1 year in a larger field. Lifting the plant after its 1st year encourages a healthy fibrous root system. The plants are lifted and graded at between 60-80cm tall, which is a good size to plant hedges at to get good establishment.
To find out more about how to plant a hedge, click here
Vivid green catkins in March, followed by clusters of green fruit, and toothed mid-green leaves turning orange and gold in autumn. Hornbeam is an excellent native tree for a large garden. Pyramidal in shape, it tolerates wet, clay soils and responds well to pruning, making it perfect for training as a formal hedge.