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Oriental Hornbeam

Carpinus orientalis (kar-PINE-or-ee-en-TAY-liss)

Family: Betulaceae Non-native Understory (15-40 ft)

Oriental Hornbeam is a small to medium-sized, slow-growing, deciduous tree or shrub. The tree is densely branched and has ornamental catkins in the spring. As a tree, it can measure from 20-25 feet tall. As a shrub, it measures 12-15 feet tall. The leaves are smaller, and the bracts are unlobed on the fruit clusters on this species, which distinguishes the Oriental Hornbeam from the European Hornbeam and American Hornbeam. Oriental Hornbeam is a member of the Betulaceae or Birch Family. The tree or shrub is native to southeastern Europe and western Asia. It was first introduced in 1735. The wood from this tree is hard and was used in the past to make handles for tools and small household items. It is now used as firewood and for charcoal. The genus name, Carpinus, is Latin for "hornbeam." The species name, orientalis , means "from the Orient." The common name, Hornbeam, is derived from "horn," meaning hard, and "beam", meaning tree in Old English. Oriental Hornbeam prefers part shade to full shade. It will tolerate full sun. It is tolerant of organic-rich and rocky soils. The tree is low maintenance and drought and pollution tolerant once established. It may regenerate from root suckers and is highly resistant to wildfires. The leaves are glossy, dark green, and small. They are oval to elliptic in shape and have doubly serrated margins. The male and female catkins appear in the spring. The female catkin produces a nutlet with unlobed bracts on the fruit clusters. Oriental Hornbeam may be used as an attractive ornamental or understory tree for shaded woodlands. It may also be considered for use as a hedge or shrub. Unfortunately, it is not available commercially in the United States. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree has no serious insect or disease problems. Gypsy moth and processionary moth may be seen. Leaf spots, canker, and twig blight may occur.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 52 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Carpinus betulus Carpinus caroliniana
Fills a similar niche Cotinus coggygria Hypericum kalmianum Nerium oleander

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Doubly Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leaves are smaller than other species and measure 1 to 2 inches long and 0.5 to 1 inch wide. They are glossy green, oval to elliptic in shape with a rounded base, and have double serrated margins. The leaves have 12-15 pairs of veins, and silky down is found on the upper and undersides of the leaf on the midribs. The fall leaf color is insignificant and ranges from a shade of yellow or red.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Insignificant; Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Catkin
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The flowers are male and female catkins appear in the spring. The male catkin is 1/2 inch to 3/4 inches long. The female catkin is 1 3/16 inches to 2 3/8 inches long. The female catkin has a coarsely toothed ovate bract. The bract measures 5/8 to 7/8 inches long and 1/2 inch wide.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The female catkin produces a nutlet with unlobed bracts on the fruit cluster. The nutlet measures 1/16 inches long.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Western Asia and Southeastern Europe
Distribution
Native: Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungry, Iran, Italy, Krym, North Caucasus, Romania, Sicily, Transcaucasus, Turkey, and Yugoslavia
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Nut

Uses (ethnobotany)

In the past, the wood from the tree was used for making tool handles and small items for the home. It has also been used for firewood and making charcoal.

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Woodland
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden
Design feature
Screen/Privacy; Street Tree; Understory Tree
Garden tags
#deciduous #drought tolerant #catkins #medium size tree #low maintenance #slow growing #small tree #nutlet #shrub #air pollution tolerant #hedge
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Drought; Pollution
Fire risk
low flammability

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.

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