Also known as the European Hornbeam or Common Hornbeam, the Pleached Hornbeam is a classic choice for structured green screening. With its neatly clipped foliage, elevated canopy, and year-round appeal - even after leaf fall - this hardy deciduous tree is perfect for creating formal lines, partitioning outdoor spaces, and enhancing privacy without closing in your garden.
At Tree Heritage Nursery, our Pleached Hornbeam Trees are carefully trained and available in a variety of head sizes and clear stem heights, providing ready-made structure for both traditional and modern garden layouts.
Growing Conditions
Hornbeam is incredibly versatile and thrives in moist, well-drained soils, including clay, chalk, and loam. It grows well in full sun or partial shade, is highly tolerant of wind and cold, and makes an excellent choice for exposed or challenging sites. Once established, it’s extremely resilient and long-lived.
Where to Position It
Pleached Hornbeam is ideal for above-fence privacy screens, formal garden frameworks, or dividing spaces in larger outdoor designs. Its tidy, structured form complements both historic gardens and contemporary schemes, while its leaf retention into winter offers continued privacy during the colder months.
Foliage, Flowers & Fruit
Hornbeam displays finely toothed, ribbed green leaves, which emerge fresh in spring, deepen in summer, and turn to rich golden and copper hues in autumn. When trained and pruned, the dried leaves often persist on the branches through winter, maintaining cover and structure. In spring, small yellow-green catkins appear, followed by winged nutlets that offer subtle interest and feed local wildlife.
Size & Growth
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Ultimate Height: 4–6 metres (with pruning)
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Ultimate Spread: Controlled through annual clipping
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Time to Ultimate Size: 10–15 years
