Hornbeam Bare Root Hedge Plants 40-60cm (Carpinus betulus)

Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) Bare Root 40-60cm hedging plants grow rapidly in full sun or partial shade, offering dense foliage ideal as a native UK hedge and privacy screen. Tolerates damp, clay or seasonally wet soils better than most alternatives and withstands heavy pruning for easy shaping.

Key Features

• Growth Rate: Fast-growing; achieves approximately 30-60cm per year when established.
• Soil Suitability: Thrives in wet, clay, or waterlogged soils (with drainage) where beech may struggle.
• Shade Tolerance: Performs well in partial shade, suitable for gardens with less direct sun.
• Maintenance: Handles hard pruning and regular clipping; forms dense, formal hedges.
• Leaf Retention: Retains brown leaves in winter for all-season screening, similar to beech.
• Planting Season: Supplied as bare root during dormant period (Nov-Mar) for best results.

Common Uses

• Garden boundary hedges
• Windbreak or privacy screens
• Coppicing, pleaching, specimen planting

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Is hornbeam suitable for wet soils as a hedge?
  A: Yes, hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) grows well in damp or clay soils and tolerates waterlogging better than beech.
• Q: How easy is it to plant bare root hornbeam?
  A: Bare root hornbeam is straightforward to plant during the dormant season and typically establishes quickly in UK conditions.
• Q: Which is better for a dense hedge, beech or hornbeam?
  A: Hornbeam generally forms a denser, more shade and moisture-tolerant hedge, while beech prefers well-drained soils.

Planting and care

This is a bare-root plant, supplied dormant between November and March. Plant within a few days of arrival for best results, keeping the roots moist and out of direct sun until they go in the ground. Standard spacing is 3 plants per metre, or 5 per metre for a denser, faster screen.

Read our complete bare-root hedging buyer's guide for full instructions on when to plant, how to handle the plants on arrival, planting depth, spacing for different uses, and what to expect in the first season.