Carpinus orientalis seeds grow into the Oriental hornbeam a shrub or small tree native to the temperate biome from south-western Hungary south-east through the Balkans (Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, former Yugoslavia), the Crimea (Krym), Turkey, the Caucasus and Iran a considerably wider range than the ‘Southern European and Balkan’ description sometimes given. Smaller and more drought-tolerant than the European hornbeam (C. betulus), it develops a dense, multi-stemmed or small tree form with finer, more sharply serrated, somewhat smaller leaves, and produces smaller, more compact fruiting clusters. The grey bark develops a smooth to slightly ridged texture. Autumn colour is yellow-gold. An important species of Mediterranean and south-eastern European dry woodland and garrigue communities. Family Betulaceae.

Full sun; drought-tolerant; adaptable to thin, rocky and calcareous soils; more heat- and drought-tolerant than C. betulus. Suitable for Mediterranean-climate and warm-temperate gardens.

• Smaller, more sharply serrated leaves than C. betulus; finer, denser texture
• Yellow-gold autumn colour; smooth to slightly ridged grey bark
• SW. Hungary to SE. Europe, Krym, Trkiye to Iran temperate biome; wider range than Balkans alone
• Drought-tolerant; important in Mediterranean and SE European dry woodland
• Full sun; thin rocky calcareous soils; more heat-tolerant than C. betulus

Carpinus orientalis is the Mediterranean and south-eastern European hornbeam a refined, drought-tolerant shrub or small tree from the Balkans, Turkey and Iran whose finer texture, compact habit and tolerance of dry, rocky soils make it an excellent ornamental for warm-temperate and Mediterranean-climate gardens.

IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.