European Hornbeam-Carpinus betulus 'Franz Fontaine'

Consider This:

The European Hornbeam, as you can tell by its name, is not native to our area, however, it is fairly common to see as it is a favorite of city architects and landscapers. It is the Swiss Army knife of trees. It is good for firewood, making tools, a hedge or windbreak, tolerates a lot of soil conditions, and is very durable -commonly referred to as ironwood. In fact the word “hornbeam” literally means “tough tree”.

But the term “showy” has rarely been used to describe the Hornbeam. In this day and age when there is so much effort to be noticed, this tree serves as a good reminder of the type of life believers in Christ are supposed to lead. Jesus himself saved his harshest words for those who took on an air of superiority or who made grand gestures showing their adherence to the law while forgetting the importance of real sacrifice, of quiet contribution, of long lasting faith.

Like almost all of us, the Hornbeam will never win a beauty pageant, but its value is a testament to durability and usefulness. Let’s pray that our lives are led with that kind of humble and confident strength.

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European Hornbeam–Carpinus betulus 'Franz Fontaine' is a dense, columnar tree that has glossy leaves which turn gold in fall. It grows slowly and can live to 120 years. The apple green, pleated foliage is often held on the tree during winter. Green catkins appear in spring and winged nuts (called samaras) develop in autumn. The Hornbeam is often described as the hardiest, heaviest and toughest of woods. Today it is used for pianos and many of their working parts, as well as screws. The species is used for bonsai trees. The narrower habit makes it a good candidate for narrow spaces or street tree applications.