Korean hornbeam is a rapidly growing deciduous large shrub or small tree native to China, Korea and Japan in the birch family (Betulaceae). The tree grows 15 to 20 feet tall and nearly as wide with a dense, rounded to weeping habit. It prefers humus-rich well-drained soil with an alkaline to neutral pH in full sun to partial shade. It is tolerant of severe pruning and has been used as a bonsai. Insignificant male and female catkins appear in mid-spring followed by oval nutlets. The small leaves have prominent veins and are reddish when young and orange-tinted in autumn. The nutlets hang and resemble hops. Use Korean hornbeam as a shade tree in an Asian or drought-tolerant garden. It is considered an ideal tree for bonsai due to the small leaves and its adaptability. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for aphids, spider mites, scale, caterpillers and leaf miners. Watch for canker and fungal diseases.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheBerberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea'Juniperus chinensis 'Robusta Green'Lagerstroemia 'Osage'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Shrub; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Small, simple, alternate, ovate, toothed, dark green on top lighter below. Leaves have deep veins, hairs on the underside and burgandy fall color. They are 1 to 2.5 inches long and 3/4 to 1.5 inches wide.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower detail
Separate male and female flowers in catkins that appear in mid-spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Produces drooping clusters of small, green, hop-like bracts containing nutlets that mature to brown in fall.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
The grey/ brown bark is shallowly fissured.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Brown to maroon stems that are short and zig zagging with a short distance between buds.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China, Korea, Japan
Wildlife value
Host plant for some butterlies and moths.
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Nut
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Woodland
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden
Design feature
Shade Tree; Small Tree; Specimen; Street Tree
Garden tags
#bonsai #tiny leaves #dry soils tolerant #slow growing #drought tolerant #red stems #hairy leaves #urban conditions tolerant #fall color red