Carpinus betulus
European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is a hedge plant. Light: full sun, part shade, shade. Hardy down to -27 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about PLN 2.
It makes a dense hedge that responds well to clipping, but grows into a large shade tree if left unpruned. The foliage turns yellow in autumn, and clipped hedges can retain many brown leaves through winter. Water regularly while it establishes and trim annually to keep the hedge dense.
| Group | Hedge |
| Light | Full sun, Part shade, Shade |
| Size after 10 years | 6 m × 4.5 m |
| Ultimate size | 15–20 m × 9–12 m |
| Hardiness | down to -27 °C (USDA 5, RHS H7) |
| Soil | Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Flowering | March–April, yellow, green |
| Water need | Medium |
| Drought tolerance | Medium |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Root aggressiveness | Low |
| Suckering | no |
| Spreading | Low |
| Distance from buildings | at least 1.5 m |
| Distance from paving | at least 0.5 m |
| Litter | Leaves |
| Planting distance | 40 cm |
| For dogs | no data |
| For cats | no data |
| For children | Non-toxic (uncertain) |
| Typical price | from about PLN 2 |
Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.
The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.
|
Size
|
Typical price
|
|---|---|
| 40-60 cm | approx. PLN 2 |
| 50-80 cm | approx. PLN 14 |
| 60-100 cm | approx. PLN 2.60 |
| 80-120 cm | approx. PLN 24 |
| 100-150 cm | approx. PLN 3.50 |
| 100-120 cm | approx. PLN 13 |
| 120-150 cm | approx. PLN 12 |
| 150-180 cm | approx. PLN 18 |
| size not stated | approx. PLN 17 – PLN 1,500 |
Data updated: October 26, 2026 · How our data is made
Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year
The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.
Planting a hedge: how many plants per metre, and what it costs
Most hedge plants go in at 2-4 plants per metre: Leyland cypress 2, cherry laurel and photinia 2.5 (40 cm apart), yew 3, hornbeam 3.5, privet and beech 4. The plants go in one row, 80 cm from the fence, in autumn or early spring. What the hedge costs depends most on the size of the plants: the table works it out at today's shop prices in your country, for the length of your own hedge.
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