Hornbeam Hedge
Carpinus betulus
Hornbeam Hedge (Carpinus betulus) is a hardy deciduous hedge plant for traditional boundaries, privacy screening and challenging sites. Its strongly veined green leaves turn yellow-gold in autumn, and regularly clipped hedges often retain some dry brown foliage into winter. Hornbeam is particularly dependable on heavier clay and moisture-retentive soils and tolerates partial shade. Choose from bare-root, pot-grown and instant Hornbeam hedge plants, with live sizes, planting densities, availability and prices shown below.
- ✓Dense traditional screening
- ✓Strong choice for heavier clay
- ✓Tolerates partial shade
- ✓Bare-root, pot-grown & instant
Key product facts
Hornbeam Hedge Root Types
Choose from our range of Hornbeam Hedge sizes and root types below.
Bare Root
Availability
- In Season
- Pre Order
- Out Of Season
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Choose your height
Pick a height to see the relevant single-plant and bulk-buy options.
40-60cm
- £1.15
£1.15 per plant
£57.50Original price was: £57.50.£56.06Current price is: £56.06.£1.12 per plant
£115.00Original price was: £115.00.£109.25Current price is: £109.25.£1.09 per plant
£287.50Original price was: £287.50.£258.75Current price is: £258.75.£1.04 per plant
£575.00Original price was: £575.00.£503.13Current price is: £503.13.£1.01 per plant
£1,150.00Original price was: £1,150.00.£977.50Current price is: £977.50.£0.98 per plant
60-90cm
- £2.10
£2.10 per plant
£105.00Original price was: £105.00.£102.38Current price is: £102.38.£2.05 per plant
£210.00Original price was: £210.00.£199.50Current price is: £199.50.£2.00 per plant
£525.00Original price was: £525.00.£472.50Current price is: £472.50.£1.89 per plant
£1,050.00Original price was: £1,050.00.£918.75Current price is: £918.75.£1.84 per plant
£2,100.00Original price was: £2,100.00.£1,785.00Current price is: £1,785.00.£1.79 per plant
90-120cm
- £2.60
£2.60 per plant
£130.00Original price was: £130.00.£126.75Current price is: £126.75.£2.54 per plant
£260.00Original price was: £260.00.£247.00Current price is: £247.00.£2.47 per plant
£650.00Original price was: £650.00.£585.00Current price is: £585.00.£2.34 per plant
£1,300.00Original price was: £1,300.00.£1,137.50Current price is: £1,137.50.£2.28 per plant
£2,600.00Original price was: £2,600.00.£2,210.00Current price is: £2,210.00.£2.21 per plant
120-150cm
- £4.50
£4.50 per plant
£225.00Original price was: £225.00.£219.38Current price is: £219.38.£4.39 per plant
£450.00Original price was: £450.00.£427.50Current price is: £427.50.£4.28 per plant
£1,125.00Original price was: £1,125.00.£1,012.50Current price is: £1,012.50.£4.05 per plant
150-175cm
- £7.95
£7.95 per plant
£397.50Original price was: £397.50.£387.56Current price is: £387.56.£7.75 per plant
£795.00Original price was: £795.00.£755.25Current price is: £755.25.£7.55 per plant
£1,987.50Original price was: £1,987.50.£1,788.75Current price is: £1,788.75.£7.16 per plant
175-200cm
- £10.95
£10.95 per plant
£547.50Original price was: £547.50.£533.81Current price is: £533.81.£10.68 per plant
£1,095.00Original price was: £1,095.00.£1,040.25Current price is: £1,040.25.£10.40 per plant
Instant Hedging
Availability
- In Season
- Pre Order
- Out Of Season
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Choose your height
Pick a height to see the relevant single-plant and bulk-buy options.
60-80cm
- £89.95
£89.95 per metre
80-100cm
- £169.95
£169.95 per metre
140-150cm
- £259.95
£259.95 per metre
Sold out
Pot Grown
Availability
- In Season
- Pre Order
- Out Of Season
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Choose your height
Pick a height to see the relevant single-plant and bulk-buy options.
40-60cm
- £7.95
£7.95 per plant
£596.25Original price was: £596.25.£536.60Current price is: £536.60.£7.15 per plant
Sold out
60-80cm
- £8.95
£8.95 per plant
£537.00Original price was: £537.00.£483.25Current price is: £483.25.£8.05 per plant
Sold out
80-100cm
- £11.95
£11.95 per plant
£597.50Original price was: £597.50.£537.70Current price is: £537.70.£10.75 per plant
Sold out
90-120cm
- £15.95
£15.95 per plant
Sold out £398.75Original price was: £398.75.£358.87Current price is: £358.87.£14.35 per plant
Sold out
120-150cm
- £29.95
£29.95 per plant
Sold out £599.00Original price was: £599.00.£539.09Current price is: £539.09.£26.95 per plant
Sold out
150-175cm
- £34.95
£34.95 per plant
Sold out £559.20Original price was: £559.20.£503.27Current price is: £503.27.£31.45 per plant
Sold out
175-200cm
- £39.95
£39.95 per plant
Sold out £639.20Original price was: £639.20.£575.27Current price is: £575.27.£35.95 per plant
Sold out
200-250cm
- £49.95
£49.95 per plant
Sold out £799.20Original price was: £799.20.£719.28Current price is: £719.28.£44.96 per plant
Sold out
Buying Hornbeam Hedge Plants
Choose the exact Hornbeam option above by root type, height and the level of initial screening you want. Each variation shows its current price, availability and recommended planting density, so use the figures for that specific size rather than relying on one generic spacing rule for every Hornbeam hedge plant.
Which Hornbeam root type should you choose?
- Bare-root Hornbeam: normally the best-value option for longer hedge runs during the dormant season.
- Pot-grown Hornbeam: a flexible choice for planting through more of the year where reliable watering is available during establishment.
- Instant Hornbeam: the premium option where an established hedge effect is more important than achieving the lowest cost per metre.
Choosing the right Hornbeam size
Smaller Hornbeam hedge plants are economical and easy to handle for longer planting runs. Larger sizes cost more but provide greater height and visual impact from the start. Use the live size, stock status, price and plants-per-metre information shown against each option to choose the best fit for your project.
If you are deciding between conventional hedging and raised screening, compare all Hornbeam options. If the decision is between Hornbeam and Beech, read our Beech or Hornbeam comparison.
Choosing the right hedge
Is a Hornbeam Hedge right for you?
A great choice if you want:
- ✓A dense traditional deciduous hedge
- ✓A reliable hedge for heavier clay or moisture-retentive soil
- ✓A hedge that performs well in partial shade
- ✓A formal or informal boundary that responds well to clipping
- ✓A good-value bare-root option for a longer hedge run
- ✓Seasonal screening with some winter leaf retention
Consider another hedge if:
- ×You need green foliage throughout winter
- ×The planting area remains permanently waterlogged
- ×You need screening above an existing wall or fence rather than from ground level
- ×You want a very narrow evergreen screen
Gwynne's Hornbeam Buying Tip
For a longer Hornbeam hedge planted during the dormant season, I would normally choose bare-root plants because they offer very good value per metre and establish well when planted correctly. If you need to plant outside the bare-root season, pot-grown Hornbeam gives you much more flexibility. Larger plants give a quicker visual screen, but whatever size you choose, use the planting density shown for that exact option rather than assuming one spacing suits every Hornbeam plant. On heavier clay, make sure excess water can drain away after prolonged rain rather than allowing the roots to sit permanently wet.
Buying help
Buying FAQs
Which Hornbeam root type should I choose?+
Choose bare-root Hornbeam for the best value on longer hedge runs during the dormant season. Pot-grown Hornbeam is the more flexible option when planting outside the bare-root season, while instant Hornbeam is intended for projects where an established hedge effect is required immediately. Current sizes, prices and availability are shown against each option above.
What size Hornbeam hedge plants should I buy?+
Smaller Hornbeam plants are economical, easier to handle and a practical choice for longer hedge lines. Larger plants cost more but provide greater height and screening from the start. Choose according to your budget, required initial impact and the sizes currently available rather than assuming that the largest plant is always the best option.
How many Hornbeam plants do I need per metre?+
The correct planting density depends on the exact Hornbeam size and root type you choose. Use the plants-per-metre figure shown against that specific option and the hedge-length calculator where available. This is more accurate than applying one generic spacing recommendation to every Hornbeam hedge plant.
When are bare-root Hornbeam plants available?+
Bare-root Hornbeam is normally supplied during the dormant season, roughly from November to March, subject to weather and stock availability. Seasonal plants may be available to pre-order before dispatch begins. Check the live availability shown against the size you want; pot-grown Hornbeam is the usual alternative when bare-root plants are out of season.
Is bare-root Hornbeam suitable for a long hedge?+
Yes. Bare-root Hornbeam is usually the most economical way to plant a longer hedge during the dormant season and is particularly useful where a large number of plants is required. Choose the size that suits your budget and use the planting density shown against that exact option to calculate the quantity needed.
Should I choose Hornbeam or Beech for heavier soil?+
Hornbeam is generally the safer choice on heavier clay and moisture-retentive soils and is also tolerant of partial shade. Beech normally prefers freer-draining conditions and tends to retain its copper-brown winter leaves more consistently. Neither should be planted where the roots will remain permanently waterlogged.
Related hedge plants
Explore similar hedging plants to Hornbeam for tough sites, dense boundaries and traditional garden screening.
- Price From £1.40 Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Beech is a popular deciduous hedge as it has superb dense bright green foliage with wavy edges, that turns copper in the autumn and is retained throughout the winter months.
- Price From £5.15 Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Purple or Copper Beech is a deciduous hedge with rich purple to burgundy summer foliage that turns copper-brown in autumn. A regularly clipped hedge often retains much of its dry foliage through winter.
- Price From £1.20 Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Field Maple is a native, fast growing deciduous hedging plant that has green foliage that turn shades of yellow in the autumn.
- Price From £1.35 Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Alnus glutinosa is a fast growing, native, deciduous plant that has glossy, dark green foliage and brown catkins in the autumn that thrives in wet soil.
- Price From £1.15 Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Hawthorn, Quickthorn, Whitethorn or May Hedging also known as Crataegus monogyna is a popular thorny, deciduous hedging species that provides seasonal interest, with pure white flowers in the spring, followed by attractive green foliage
- Price From £1.60 Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Common Privet is a popular form of evergreen / semi evergreen hedge. Very fast growing with dark green ovate leaves and lovely white flowers that are produced in the summer.
Planting essentials
Give your new hedge the best possible start with the planting products we recommend for establishment and healthy growth.
- Price From £14.95 Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Support the establishment of newly planted hedges, trees and shrubs with Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi. The beneficial fungi form a secondary root system that helps plants access water and nutrients from the surrounding soil.
The included dipping gel makes Rootgrow particularly convenient for bare-root hedging, while the dry granules can be applied directly to the roots of pot-grown and root-balled plants.
Choose from 360g, 1kg and 2.5L Professional packs for domestic gardens, longer hedge lines and trade or commercial planting projects.
- Price From £8.25 Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Feeding your hedging with our granular ‘Hedge Feed’ the ultimate solution for nurturing and rejuvenating your beloved hedge. Our carefully crafted long lasting granular hedge fertiliser provides the essential nutrients your hedge needs to thrive.
- Price From £0.95 Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
As well as supplying high quality plants we also provide a complete Irrigation package to make sure your investment thrives.
- Price From £8.00 Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Our Hedge Planting Compost is a natural, peat free soil conditioner/improver.
- Price From £0.29 Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Our bamboo canes provide support to your hedge and ensures that plants fitted with a rabbit guard will grow nice and straight. They are 90cm long (3ft) and made from 100% bamboo.
- Price From £0.58 Shop Now This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Our Hedging Spiral Guards help protect your hedge from damage by rabbits.



