European Hornbeam, Carpinus betulus, Tree Seeds Hardy, Adaptable, Easy to Grow, Bonsai, Fall Color, Hedge Plant, Topiary, Allee, Cold, Drought and Wind Tolerant European Hornbeam is a long lived medium-sized, deciduous tree that grows 40 to 60 feet (less frequently to 80 feet) tall with a pyramidal to oval-rounded crown. Ovate, sharply-toothed, dark green leaves (to 5 inches long) are dark green and attractive throughout the growing season with little susceptibility to foliar diseases. Foliage turns yellow to orange in fall. Monoecious flowering catkins form in early spring before the foliage emerges. Male catkins (to 1.5 inches long) are yellowish and female catkins (to 3 inches long) are greenish. Fruit is a ribbed nutlet that is borne at the base of a leafy bract. Leafy bracts hang in clusters. Fruit matures in September through October. The fruits and buds are eaten by a variety of birds. Trunks have a handsome smooth gray bark and distinctive muscle-like fluting. European Hornbeam has been cultivated for many centuries. Trees are used extensively in England and continental Europe for hedges and allees. It is often described as the hardiest, heaviest and toughest of woods. The extremely hard wood of this tree will, as the common name suggests, take a horn-like polish and was once used in Europe to make yokes for oxen (the beam between the ox horns). The wood was used for wheel cogs, axils, spokes, wooden screws, tool handles, and butchers blocks. The wood is used for pianos and many of their working parts. Other Names: European Hornbeam, Ironwood, Common Hornbeam Zone: 4 to 8 Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate Plant Type: Deciduous Tree Family: Betulaceae Native Range: Europe, Turkey, Ukraine Height: 40 to 60 feet Spread: 30 to 40 feet Shape: Pyramidal when young becoming rounded with age. Bloom Time: March Bloom Color: Yellow (male) and green (female) Flower/Fruit: Male catkins (to 1.5” long) are yellowish and female catkins (to 3” long) are greenish followed by small nutlets in 3-lobed bracts that appear in drooping 5” long clusters. Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade Fall Color: Yellow to orange Drought Tolerance: High Water: Medium Maintenance: Low Site Requirements/Soil Tolerances: Best in moist, well-drained soils. Tolerates light shade but prefers full sun. Relatively drought and wind tolerant and somewhat tolerant of environmental stresses. Culture: Needs little pruning when grown as a tree, but responds well to hard pruning if grown as a hedge or allee. Best pruned during the period of late summer to mid-winter to avoid significant bleeding. Uses: Excellent landscape tree, shade tree for lawns or street tree. Trees can be used as specimens, in groupings or as hedges. Popular Bonsai, Topiary and Allee. Sowing Carpinus betulus Seeds: For best results, please follow the instructions in the order provided. European Hornbeam seed need a warm spell then a cold spell in order to mature the embryo and reduce the seed coat. Scarify: Soak 24 hours Stratify: Warm 30 Days, then Cold 120 days, 40 Degrees F in a Moist Medium. Germination: Sow 1/4” deepFor more information about seed pretreatment and growing trees and shrubs from seed, please download this .pdf:https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2007/08/fcpg018.pdf Germination: Seeds Packets are labeled with seed name and sowing details. Seeds have not been pretreated unless specified in the listing. Seed is not a specific Cultivar (Variety) unless specified in the listing. Due to the many factors involved in successful germination, Seller cannot be responsible for buyers growing methods or mistakes. I have provided what I believe to be a good overview on this page (which you are free to print for further reference), however, it is still recommended to check specialist literature for more details and practices specific to your climate and soil conditions to avoid mistakes in the germination and growing process. Shipping and Discounts: All items are set up to automatically discount as follows: Any promotional offers are discounted by using the “Add to Cart “only.To qualify for any discounts, items must be paid together, on the same eBay invoice.If paid separately, no discounts will be applied though seller reserves the right to ship together.If there are any questions or concerns about the amount due, please message me before paying so I can address all of your concerns before there is a problem. Buyer assumes responsibility once payment has been made. International Buyer’s: It is the buyer’s responsibility to know their countries customs laws. Plant and plant materials including seeds may be restricted from importing to your country. Please check with your customs agency and or post office before purchasing. Upon purchasing this item Buyer accepts the risk of item being confiscated and/or destroyed by customs and Seller will not be held liable for this. If you are on my exclusion list it is because: “Plant and plant materials including seeds” are restricted from importing to your country, it is enforced by your country and there is a high rate of customs checking for this. Import duties, taxes, and customs charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to buying. Tracking is not available for International items. International mail varies from 10 to 30 business days (postal working days) and some countries require certain International items to be picked up at your post office. Upon processing your order, you will be sent a customs number, your shipping date and your shipping address, which you will need in order to retrieve it from your post office if you are required to do so. If these are not picked up in a reasonable time they may be returned or discarded. All mail items are subject to inspection by customs when crossing into another country. If stopped for inspection this will cause serious delays in receiving your item(s). You may or may not be notified of this. This may require you to pick up your package from your post office.