Quick Description
A stately specimen of a tree with excellent form and few troubles; columnar habit makes it great for smaller landscapes; takes pruning very well and can make a fantastic hedge; choice cultivars are available in some very creative shapes and forms
Other Names: European Hornbeam, Common Hornbeam
What Makes it Special?
Frans Fontaine Hornbeam is primarily valued in the landscape for its rigidly columnar form. It has forest green deciduous foliage. The glossy pointy leaves turn an outstanding gold in the fall. The smooth gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.
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Landscape Attributes
Frans Fontaine Hornbeam is a dense deciduous tree with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Planting & Growing
Frans Fontaine Hornbeam will grow to be about 40 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 120 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!
This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn’t be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
Carpinus betulus 'Frans Fontaine'
Frans Fontaine Hornbeam
$681.00 – $832.00
$681.00 – $832.00
Click for Plant Facts – Height, Width, Sun, Water, & More!
Height : 40 feet
Spread: 20 feet
Sunlight: full sun
Water Usage: average to moist
Landscape Use: Accent, Shade, Vertical Accent, Mass Planting, Hedges/Screening
Flower Color: N/A
Bloom Period:N/A
Foliage Type: deciduous
Foliage Color: Green
Deer Resistant?: No
Spread: 20 feet
Sunlight: full sun
Water Usage: average to moist
Landscape Use: Accent, Shade, Vertical Accent, Mass Planting, Hedges/Screening
Flower Color: N/A
Bloom Period:N/A
Foliage Type: deciduous
Foliage Color: Green
Deer Resistant?: No
Want more info on sizes?
IndyPlants sells landscape size plant material. These often come in black nursery containers and are classified in sizes such as #2, #3, #5, etc. This correlates to the volume of the container, 2 gallon, 3, gallon, 5 gallon, etc. The bigger the number, the larger the pot, and the larger the plant. You’ll also see larger sizes such as 2” BB, 2.5” BB, 3” BB, etc. This stands for ‘Balled & Burlapped’. These plants are usually much larger and are not transported in black nursery pots. The sizing correlates to the diameter of the trunk of the tree.
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Do you accept returns?
We do our best to handpick only the best quality plants from trusted, local nurseries. If for whatever reason your order doesn’t meet your expectations, you can return your plants for a full refund within 48 hours of delivery.
Do your plants have a warranty?
Nature can take a toll on even the best cared for plants. If your plant dies within one year from the date it was delivered, you’ll get an exact replacement to the best of our ability. If you’d prefer a substitution or a full refund, we’ve got you covered.