Carpinus Betulus ‘Lucas’

A reliable and decently upright tree that develops a teardrop-shaped head. Will reach a moderate 10metres in height and boasts a nicely dense wodge of properly green leaves. For all that we offer multi-hued sparklers, it is nice to have some solid and reliable green and we remind you that we do them, too. The proper green leaves on this tree turn a proper golden yellow in the autumn, as deciduous types are wont to do, too.

Heavy clay soils of the kind which clings clumpily to your hooves are no impediment to this tree. It’s an excellent choice if you’re slogging away on ground the consistency of plasticine (the Midlands. Our condolences) as like all Hornbeams it seems to relish the moisture and rich minerals without sulking about the cold stickiness.

That said, it’s great on a variety of soils and this particular cultivar is a smasher, with all the hard-as-nails qualities of a Hornbeam just with a neater and more compact form when grownup.

It is rather less fastigiate (horti-speak for branches which are more or less parallel to the trunk) at maturity than other Hornbeams, but it starts out this way and then matures into something with a slender, flame-like and ovoid shape with a buxom bottom. Avenues of these trees look magnificent so you’ll need several to line a driveway, or perhaps a pair to flank your gargoyeled gate.

In Autumn, the foliage will do the typical Hornbeam thing of going crisply-crinkly but staying stubbornly on the branches. This adds a beautiful new dimension to their architectural silhouette, and they become foxy plumes of cinnamon flame.

Hardy like we said, and easy regardless of your site be it exposed or sheltered. It will not grow well on thin soil over chalk, however. Sorry, but there had to be one place it wouldn’t.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well-watered when first planted.