Upright European Hornbeam

Upright European Hornbeam

15 Gallon
$169.00
Skip to product information
Upright European Hornbeam
1/8

Upright European Hornbeam

Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’

A classic columnar tree with dense foliage, attractive yellow fall color, and a formal habit that broadens into a vase shape with age.

$169.00
Container sizeSize guide

Quality Guarantee

Free Delivery Over $199

+1 650-241-8858 (SMS ok)

Local Plant Delivery

Delivered by our local network

Current Nursery Inventory

Availability reflects current sourcing

 Living Plants

Size, shape and branching naturally vary

Description

Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' is a classic, columnar deciduous tree prized for its dense, formal shape, strong vertical lines, and attractive foliage. This popular cultivar is one of the earliest and most common hornbeam selections, forming a narrow, columnar crown when young that matures into a broader, oval to pyramidal or vase-shaped form with age. It features smooth, gray, fluted bark and dense, ovate, dark green leaves with sharply serrated margins. In autumn, the foliage turns a clean, attractive yellow to orange-yellow. Adaptable, tough, and tolerant of pruning, it is an outstanding choice for a street tree, avenue planting, privacy screen, or as a focal point in large landscapes and formal gardens.

Quick Facts

Processed facts

  • Light: Full sun to partial shade

Needs confirmation

  • Foliage & Bark: Ovate, dark green, sharply serrated leaves (to 5 inches long), turning yellow to orange-yellow in fall; smooth, gray, fluted bark.
  • Mature Height: 30-40 ft
  • Mature Spread: 20-30 ft (narrower when young, broadening with age)
  • Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
  • Hardiness Zones: USDA 4-8; Sunset 2-9, 14-17
  • Core Benefits: Columnar habit (broader with age), dense foliage, attractive fall color, adaptable, tolerant of pruning.
  • Best Uses: Street tree, avenue planting, privacy screen, specimen tree, large landscapes, formal gardens.

Faqs

Q: How large does 'Fastigiata' European Hornbeam get?
A: It is a medium to large tree, typically reaching 30-40 feet in height and 20-30 feet in spread at maturity. It has a narrow, columnar form when young that broadens into a more pyramidal or oval shape with age.

Q: How is it different from 'Frans Fontaine' hornbeam?
A: Both have strong vertical growth, but 'Fastigiata' has a broader, more open crown at maturity(20-30 ft wide), while 'Frans Fontaine' maintains a much narrower, more tightly columnar form(15-20 ft wide). 'Fastigiata' requires more lateral space.

Q: How fast does it grow?
A: It has a slow to moderate growth rate, adding about 1-2 feet per year.

Q: What is the fall color like?
A: The dark green foliage turns a clean, attractive yellow to orange-yellow in autumn.

Q: Is it tolerant of pruning?
A: Yes, it tolerates pruning very well and can be shaped or used as a formal hedge or screen. It is also tolerant of urban conditions, including air pollution and compacted soils.

Q: Is it a good choice for a street tree?
A: Yes, its strong, upright form and adaptability make it an excellent choice for street plantings, avenues, and narrow spaces, especially when young.

📍 Primary Delivery Area · San Francisco Bay Area

Local delivery across the Bay Area — and beyond.

San Francisco Bay Area is our primary local delivery market. Victory Nursery also serves additional California markets and selected extended delivery areas by arrangement.

Regular local delivery: San Francisco, Peninsula, South Bay, East Bay, Marin, Tracy / Mountain House and surrounding service areas.

Shop now

A good garden starts with the right size

Choose your starting point.

15 Gallon

15 Gallon

One of the most common larger landscape sizes for trees and shrubs. It offers noticeable height and fullness while still being practical for many residential planting projects.

Explore 15 Gallon Plants

24" Box

24" Box

A substantial tree and shrub size with immediate visual impact. It usually requires a dolly, hand truck or similar equipment for moving, and access should be considered before delivery.

Explore 24" Box Trees

Gallon describes the container size, not a guaranteed plant height. Individual plants vary. Contact our nursery for current measurements.

Discover More from Victory Nursery

Deciduous Trees
Deciduous trees with seasonal color and canopy shade in a Bay Area garden landscape

Deciduous Trees

Trees
Trees for shade, structure

Trees

Hedges
Dense evergreen hedge plants used for privacy screening in a Bay Area garden

Hedges

Large Trees
Large mature trees over 20 feet providing shade and structure in a San Francisco Bay Area residential landscape

Large Trees

  • 5 stars: 1 (100%)
  • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
A
Anonymous

Quick delivery of the correct order!