Description
Carpinus betulus aerial screening is commonly called Hornbeam. It is a sturdy deciduous tree which has green leaves that look similar to those of Green Beech (Fagus sylvatica) but are a bit more serrated on the edge and a duller green. Like the Beech it also keeps a proportion of the old leaves on its branches through the winter and into the spring giving a better screening effect. Although the amount of leaf that is retained is dependent on the location that the plant is in and how exposed to the wind it is, as well as the age of the plant (the older and denser the foliage the more of the leaves will be retained). With these aerial screening panels, it is also affected by the height of the stem as the taller the stem the more exposed the foliage will be. The leaves turn a lovely yellow in the Autumn.
Carpinus betulus aerial screening is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and growing conditions making them a true general-purpose tree that reliably performs year after year. Being a British native the Carpinus betulus will make an excellent habitat for wildlife, offering both shelter and food, it is also a good privacy tree and also good for sound proofing. It once made up the Native forests of the south east and east of England and was coppiced for fire wood.
With regular trimming Carpinus betulus aerial screening trims up to a very smooth finish which will give a formal look to a garden if wanted, but will also act as a great back drop to any flowering plants that may be in front of it. As the tree become older the stem will have some lovely fluting or buttressing to it which adds another interest to it for aerial screening. Because it is so versatile it is planted by a lot of nurseries for shelter across their sites.
The Royal Horticultural Society gave Hornbeam an Award of Garden Merit in 1984.
We offer this with a 50cm, 100cm, 150cm and 180cm clear stem and all have a panel of 150cm x 150cm. this is one of the most popular varieties that we offer and we grow good quantities of all sizes.