European beech vs Fastigiate hornbeam

European beech and Fastigiate hornbeam are often considered for the same spot in the garden (hedge, screening, specimen). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

European beech

Fagus sylvatica 5 m × 3 m after 10 years

A huge woodland tree with smooth grey bark and deep shade that makes a fine specimen in a large garden and, when clipped, a classic hedge: the hedge…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about HUF 5,200

Fastigiate hornbeam

Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' 6 m × 2.5 m after 10 years

A dense hornbeam with upswept branches that is a slim column when young, which makes it a good vertical accent in a border and, planted in a row, a…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about HUF 27,000

Key differences

Fastigiate hornbeam grows faster than European beech.
Fastigiate hornbeam tolerates drought better than European beech.
Fastigiate hornbeam also takes heavy clay, European beech needs a loose, free-draining soil.
European beech is cheaper: about HUF 28,000 at the same size (200–300 cm), against about HUF 38,000 for Fastigiate hornbeam.

Which one to choose?

European beech is the better choice if price matters.

Fastigiate hornbeam is the better choice if you want quick results, you cannot water regularly or the soil is heavy clay.

Watch out for

European beech

It is not happy in the warm, dry lowland gardens of Central Europe: it belongs to cool, rainy hills and mountains, its leaves scorch in hot summers, it weakens in prolonged drought and is then attacked by bark and wood boring insects and fungi (mass beech dieback in forests has been recorded after drought years). Plant it only in a more humid, sheltered spot with moist soil, ideally where it can be watered; it is not advisable for dry, sun-baked lowland gardens. The thin bark burns on suddenly exposed trunks, it does not tolerate paving or compacted soil, it is slow to establish after transplanting and late frost can kill young shoots. Little else survives under its shallow, dense roots and deep shade. Aphids, scale and powdery mildew can occur.

Fastigiate hornbeam

In Central Europe the leaves of newly planted trees and of trees hemmed in by paving scorch and drop early in hot, dry summers, so water regularly in the first years. The dense, narrow-angled branches can splay and split under wet snow or freezing rain. Canker and stem dieback occur on weakened trees.

The data side by side

Feature	European beech	Fastigiate hornbeam
Group	Large tree	Large tree
Size after 10 years	5 m × 3 m (uncertain)	6 m × 2.5 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	15–35 m × 10–30 m (uncertain)	9–18 m × 4–9 m
Growth rate	Slow	Medium
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Calcareous, Acidic, Sandy	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Low	Medium (uncertain)
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, green	April–May, yellow, green
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low	Medium
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	1000 cm	200 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic (uncertain)	no data
For children	Mildly toxic	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	about HUF 28,000 (200–300 cm)	about HUF 38,000 (200–300 cm)

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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