The European Hornbeam is native to most of Europe and parts of Asia Minor. It is not common in the USA, but one can find a few specimens in and around some towns at estates, well-to-do neighbourhoods, city parks, office parks, and college campuses. I don't know of it having escaped cultivation in the US. It is a handsome, high quality smaller tree like its sister the American Hornbeam. Its leaves are darker and of thicker texture than the American species and its smooth, gray bark is also darker. Like most European woody plants, its autumn colour is not as excellent as the American species, (or Asian species also), being greenish-yellow to a good yellow. It grows about 1 to 1.5 feet/year and lives about 100 to 150 years. It is a good quality, handsome smaller tree where a few are sold by some larger, diverse, conventional nurseries. usually only planted by landscape architects and designers that know of it. The European species is more adaptable to more landscapes than the American species. The Columnar European Hornbeam (C. betulus 'Fastigiata' is being planted a fair amount onto city parkways. I prefer the American species as it is native in the US and it has prettier, more muscular bark and fall colour.

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