Carpinus betulus Globus

Carpinus betulus 'Globus' is a variety of hornbeam that is useful for its small size and rounded habit, which is well-suited for small spaces. Its beautiful golden yellow autumn foliage, which falls late in the season, is also admired. It is a very hardy and adaptable small tree, perfect for planting near a terrace or in the centre of a lawn.

Carpinus betulus, sometimes called hornbeam, is a tree native to forests in Europe and Asia Minor (Turkey and Ukraine) with a pyramidal habit that becomes more rounded over time. Its straight trunk is covered with a pale grey to grey-green bark which smooth on young hornbeams and becomes fissured as it ages. Its flowers are monoecious, either male or female, with slightly different appearances and emerge in autumn (male catkins) and spring (female catkins). Carpinus betulus produces pendant clusters of green fruits that are 3 to 6 cm long and turn yellow-brown when mature in late September. These toxic fruits are called samara.

The 'Globus' variety is difficult to distinguish from the 'Columnaris Nana' variety. Its foliage is very dense, extending to the ends of the branches, creating a fluffy effect. In 1999, the latter was cultivated in England in the Savill Garden of Windsor Great Park under the name 'Globosa Nana'. The cultivar 'Globus' is very similar.

The common hornbeam 'Globus' is characterised by slow growth, compact development, and a crown that becomes spherical over time. This small tree is often offered with well-branched trunk. Ultimately, it rarely exceeds 3 metres in all directions. Its dark, grey-brown branches bear compound leaves that are ovate and doubly toothed, measuring 7 to 10 cm long. The leaves are a tender green in spring and summer, turning a bright golden yellow in autumn. The leaves remain brown and stay attached to the branches for a long time before falling.

The 'Globus' hornbeam is a robust and undemanding tree that will adapt to any sufficiently deep soil, even if slightly dry. It thrives in urban environments. Like the parasol acacia or Catalpa bignonioides 'Nana', it is well-suited as a shade tree in a small garden.

The wood of the common hornbeam is used for heating, paper production, tools and children's toys. This shrub has a lifespan that rarely exceeds 100 years in the wild.