Carpinus Betulus Rockhampton Red Hornbeam Rockhampton Red

Carpinus Betulus Rockhampton Red (synonymous with Carpinus Betulus Lochglow) is a deciduous, brightly coloured hornbeam with the RHS AGM. Commonly known as Hornbeam Rockhampton Red,  this a handsome, deciduous slow-growing large tree for colourful year-round hedging and specimen planting.

Discovered in Rockhampton, Gloucestershire, this sport of Britain’s native hornbeam is a contender for the best autumn-coloured hornbeam. In spring, it produces lime green foliage, with green catkins, that matures to rich green across the summer, but in autumn its green foliage turns fiery red and orange, which is unusual for hornbeams that usually produce a yellow autumnal display. Moving into winter, brown leaves cling to its thick crown only shedding them when spring rolls around.

As a plus, its green catkins mature into interesting clusters of winged fruits that tumble and spiral to the ground in late autumn.

This handsome tree is an interesting replacement for beech hedging because, like beech, its foliage is branch-borne all year round.

Height and Spread of Carpinus Betulus Rockhampton Red
Hornbeam Rockhampton Red can reach 15 metres tall with a thick six-to-eight-metre wide crown after 20 years. It’s slow-growing and matures beautifully. Annual clipping will maintain a suitable hedging height.

How Hardy Is Carpinus Betulus Rockhampton Red
Hornbeam trees are hardy in Britain down to freezing temperatures. It can cope with flooding, exposure, chalk, shade, and full sun.

How To Use Carpinus Betulus Rockhampton Red
An excellent alternative to beech, Hornbeam Rockhampton Red is a hardy tree or hedging shrub that provides a year-round shelter belt or privacy screen. Its bright green, then red foliage is handsome in all garden styles, and it provides shelter for birds and small mammals like hedgehogs, too. Moths and butterflies rely on it for caterpillar food, so it’s an excellent biodiversity plant.

How To Care For Carpinus Betulus Rockhampton Red
Hornbean Rockhampton Red is tough enough to cope with most soils and conditions. It’ll tolerate temporary flooding and thin, chalky soil, but it grows best in a sunny, free-draining spot. Be sure to water it frequently until you see new growth.

Rockhampton Red is slow-growing and pruning isn’t necessary, but you can cut back excess growth in late winter or early spring. Add a thick layer of well-rotted organic mulch around the roots in early spring to boost its health and produce the most vivid colours.