The Hornbeam: Hedge and Bird Paradise

Whether you need a living fence or a green border, the hornbeam makes it possible.

With its dense foliage, it is not only popular among gardening enthusiasts but also well-loved by others.

Of course, it can be planted as a tree in a large garden or park, and that’s always a good choice. However, the hornbeam is unmatched as a hedge in ordinary gardens. This is especially true because it thrives even in shady conditions. If parts of it receive sunlight, it doesn’t mind either. While marking the boundary to a neighbor’s garden is one option, the hornbeam hedge can also be used to create beautiful garden spaces. The British have long been setting an example: a seating area here, a green space with a sculpture there— all surrounded by this deciduous plant, which blends naturally into any setting.

With its dense foliage, the hornbeam not only impresses gardeners as a hedge. What people use as privacy screens and windbreaks, it also offers to the bird world as a paradisiacal home. Who could say no to such beautifully structured leaves in a cozy oval shape and fresh green hue! In autumn, this appealing plant changes its color to golden yellow. Over the winter, it refuses to fully bare itself, instead showcasing light brown tones. The hornbeam only lets go of its leaves as a hedge when fresh greenery pushes through in the spring.

If the areas are large enough, the hornbeam can shape entire avenues as a hedge. Here, it creates a picturesque scene alongside maple and dogwood. In gardens, it works wonderfully as a backdrop for blooming plants that stand out beautifully against the dense green setting. In spring, the sky-blue forget-me-nots and colorful tulips are ideal, in summer, the lush peonies, and in autumn, the fragrant lavender in rich violet. Regular pruning of the hornbeam hedge ensures it remains a joy to behold. If you skip a year, it will grow back with double the vigor. A true beauty!