While a hornbeam reaches a height of 20 or occasionally 25 meters when fully grown, columnar hornbeams remain somewhat smaller. Since they don't become so expansive, they are wonderfully suitable for smaller gardens.
How tall does a columnar hornbeam grow?
When fully grown, a columnar hornbeam reaches a height of 10 to 15 meters and a width of 4 to 6 meters. The annual growth is 10 to 40 centimeters. The full height is only reached after 20 to 30 years.
What height does a columnar hornbeam reach?
Columnar hornbeams do not grow as tall as normal hornbeams. Their growth range is also narrower than the other varieties:
- Growth height: 10 to 15 meters
- Growth width: 4 to 6 meters
- Growth per year: 10 to 40 centimeters
Many years pass until the columnar hornbeam reaches a height of 10 to 15 meters. The hornbeam is only considered fully grown when it is 20 to 30 years old.
It doesn't produce its first flowers until it's 20 or 30 years old. Fruits do not develop until around 40 years.
Columnar hornbeams do not need to be cut
Because columnar hornbeams remain much slimmer and naturally have a slightly tapered shape, they do not need to be cut. In its natural form, the columnar hornbeam is particularly suitable for larger gardens.
If you only have little space in the garden, if you care for the columnar hornbeam as an avenue tree or if you want to limit its height, you can easily cut it back. The best time for this is early spring, February is optimal.
If necessary, you can cut back the columnar hornbeam to the ground, i.e. to the ground, without damaging it. It sprouts reliably again, but then needs a lot of water and additional nutrients.
Columnar hornbeams change their color
Columnar hornbeams look a little different every season. In spring the leaves emerge in a delicate green.
In summer the hornbeam appears in a strong medium green. The autumn leaves turn bright yellow.
Like all hornbeams, the columnar hornbeam is not evergreen. The leaves dry up in autumn but often remain on the tree until spring, so the columnar hornbeam looks brown in winter.
Tip
Hornbeams as native plants are very valuable trees from an ecological point of view. They provide food for many insects and are often used by birds as breeding grounds. Even if you don't have a lot of space in your garden, you can make a contribution to nature conservation with a columnar hornbeam or a standard tree.