This Hornbeam was introduced from Japan in 1895. It has since won the Award of Garden Merit in 2002 which isn’t surprising considering its unique hanging flowers which hang vertically from branches that come out horizontally from the tree.

The Japonica is a beautiful small tree with a rounded shape when mature. It will only reach a mature height of around 10 meters which makes it perfect for small and large gardens. The tree can be found with a smooth pink / grey bark which along with the flowers add a nice contrast to the dark corrugated foliage that is found on the Hornbeam during the spring / summer months. The leaves found on the Japonica are in an elliptical shape that is around 5-10cm long with many veins.

The Japanese Hornbeam is a unique tree that is perfect for any parkland, especially with being so easy to grow on any soil including clay and chalky soils.

Tree Specs

• Common Name: Japanese Hornbeam
• Botanical Name: Carpinus japonica
• Mature Height: 7-12m
• Key Features:
  • Deep green foliage
  • Oval Shaped Leaves
  • Dropping flower clusters
  • Wildlife friendly
  • Bark interest