Both hornbeams as well as common beeches or copper beeches are suitable for creating a hedge or planting a single tree in the garden. But which type of tree is better? Differences between hornbeam and common beech.
What are the differences between hornbeam and common beech?
Hornbeams belong to the birch family, grow up to 20 meters high and have medium green leaves that turn yellow in autumn. European beeches are true beech trees, reach a height of up to 40 meters and have green leaves that turn orange in autumn.
Hornbeams are not beech trees, but birch trees
Even though hornbeams are often classified as beeches, they are birch trees. They are also called hornbeam because of their white wood. Another name is stone beech because hornbeams have the strongest wood of all European trees. They have green leaves that turn yellow in autumn.
Common beeches and copper beeches are true beech trees. European beech trees owe their name to the slightly reddish wood that is often used for making furniture. Copper beeches are so called because of their reddish-brown foliage.
Differences between hornbeams and copper beeches
| Tree | Plant family | Location | Height | Growth per year | Leaves | Substrate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Beech | Beech family | sunny, partially shaded | up to 40 meters | 30 – 40 cm | Green, orange in autumn | not sour, moist, no waterlogging |
| Columbian Beech | Beech family | sunny, partially shaded | up to 40 meters | 30 – 40 cm | dark red, orange-red in autumn | not sour, moist, no waterlogging |
| hornbeam | Birch family | sunny, shady | up to 20 meters | 20 – 40 cm | Medium green, yellow in autumn | undemanding, not too dry |
Planting common beech or hornbeam?
Whether you plant a common beech or a hornbeam depends on several factors. Beeches are more sensitive to location. They prefer milder locations and need lots of sun. They also have shallow roots and are therefore not so well suited to windy locations. The hornbeam has a heart root that digs deep into the ground. The tree therefore copes better in unprotected locations.
Common beeches are a little more delicate when it comes to the substrate. The soil must not be too acidic. It should be nutritious and well-draining. Under no circumstances should the earth dry out completely. European beeches cannot tolerate waterlogging at all.
Hornbeams don't grow quite as big as copper beeches and are therefore more suitable for smaller gardens. However, if you have enough space and a location protected from the wind, a copper beech, especially a copper beech, will be a real eye-catcher in any garden.
Tip
There are hardly any differences in care between the two types of trees. Both need pruning in the hedge twice a year and, as a single tree, can do without any cutting at all.