The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: Korean hornbeam

Family: Betulaceae (birch family)

Distribution: Korea

Hardiness: USDA Zone 5

Life form: Deciduous tree

Comments: A rarely available plant, it is a large shrub to small tree. It is slow-growing and attains a height of 15-25' tall and nearly as wide after many years. Its small leaves are sharply and doubly toothed on their margins. In summer, leaves are glossy green above, hairy on the veins below and is said to have fall color of red, orange, yellow and sometimes burgundy. The fruit occur in small clusters in papery-like sacs. It is reportedly salt tolerant since it grows natively along Korea's coastlands. A great plant in the landscape as a specimen.