What's a Hornbeam Tree

Hornbeams are hardwood trees in the family Betulaceae (birch) and the flowering plant genus Carpinus. … Both are understory trees and can grow in shade to partial-shade, share a similar leaf shape, are known for having very hard wood, distinctive bark, showy catkins, and yellow-to-orange-to-red fall leaf color.

What is hornbeam good for?

The hornbeam holds significant wildlife value as a food plant, shelter and roosting site. Like the beech, the hornbeam does not shed all of its leaves in winter, so provides shelter throughout the cold winter months.

How tall does a hornbeam tree get?

Tree size: 20 to 40 feet tall, 20 to 30 feet wide. Growth rate is slow, about 1 foot a year.