Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’

‘Fastigiata’, sometimes called Upright European hornbeam, displays a narrow, fastigiate form in youth, but gradually acquires a tear drop or oval-vase shape with age, typically maturing to 40′ tall and 30′ wide. ‘Fastigiata’ is much more common in commerce than the species. Ovate, toothed, bright medium green leaves (to 4″ long) are clean and attractive throughout the growing season with little susceptibility to foliar diseases. Foliage turns yellow-orange in fall. Trunks have smooth gray bark and distinctive muscle-like fluting. Monoecious flowering catkins form in early spring before the foliage emerges. Male catkins are yellowish and female catkins are greenish. Fruits are small nutlets in 3-lobed bracts that appear in drooping 5″ long clusters in summer. Betulus is the genus name for birch in reference to the birch-like characteristics of this species.  (Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Gardens Plant Finder)