Lucas European Hornbeam
Carpinus betulus ‘Lucas’
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Lucas European Hornbeam - #3 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150+ | $24.99 |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Lucas European Hornbeam highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
-
Brand
-
Botanical Name
-
Growing Zones
-
Mature Height
-
Mature Spread
-
Sun ExposureFull Sun, Partial Shade
-
Moisture
-
Soil
-
Growth RateMedium
-
Fall Color
-
Pollinator Friendly
-
Pruning Time
Growing Zones
Looking for a sleek, vertical accent tree that thrives in tight spaces? The Lucas European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus 'Lucas'), also known as Lucas Columnar Hornbeam, is a tall, narrow, deciduous tree with a stately form and refined beauty! It boasts glossy, dark green serrated foliage that turns golden-yellow in fall, making it ideal for privacy screening, hedging, and formal landscaping.
This non-flowering, sterile tree is prized for its tight columnar growth habit, making it a fantastic choice for urban yards, tight side yards, or flanking driveways and paths. The Lucas Hornbeam features smooth gray bark on sturdy, upright trunks and symmetrical branching with dense foliage coverage.
Its leaves are oval with finely toothed edges and hold their color well throughout the growing season. As autumn arrives, the foliage shifts to a bright yellow hue before dropping. It typically reaches 30-35 feet tall and stays just 8-10 feet wide without pruning, maintaining a narrowly upright, almost architectural form that requires very little shaping!
>>Jump to Planting & Care Instructions
Key Features
- Strongly columnar, space-saving shape
- Dense dark green foliage turns golden yellow in fall
- No messy flowers, fruit, or seed pods
- Great for screens, hedges, or formal designs
- Tolerates urban conditions and pruning
Landscaping Uses
Lucas Columnar Hornbeam reaches 30-35 feet tall and stays 8-10 feet wide, with a strong upright shape, perfect for narrow landscapes.
- Tall vertical accent for modern landscapes
- Formal rows or allees
- Living fences or privacy screens
- Flank driveways, fences, or paths
- Space-saving shade tree for small yards
- Fantastic windbreak tree
- Perfect as a street tree or narrow border
Care & Maintenance
Native to Europe and Western Asia, this cultivar is a selected form of the European Hornbeam that is bred for its narrower profile and improved uniformity. It produces no flowers or fruit of note, is a non-invasive, pollution-tolerant tree perfect for cold, windy regions, compact urban areas, and structured plantings.
Hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 8, it’s a favorite in both residential and commercial landscapes. This is a deciduous, cold-hardy, low-maintenance tree with a narrow upright habit that tolerates pollution and wind.
- Planting Time: Best planted in spring or fall
- Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Requirements: Prefers moist, well-drained soil but tolerates clay and compacted urban soils
- Moisture Needs: Moderate; water deeply during establishment and during dry spells (use the Finger Test)
- Arborist Mulch: Apply a 3-4 inch layer of arborist mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds
- Fertilization Needs: Use a slow-release balanced fertilizer in early spring; compost is beneficial
- Pruning Info: Prune in late winter if shaping is needed; responds well to pruning for formal hedges
- Renewal Pruning: Not needed due to formal shape
- Special Perks/Growing Tips:
- Extremely cold-hardy
- Wind-tolerant
- Resistant to urban stress and air pollution
Adaptable to clay and alkaline soils
Upright Elegance For Every Space
Lucas Columnar Hornbeam brings architectural drama and elegant greenery to narrow spaces. Its tidy vertical growth makes it perfect for rows, screens, and formal plantings in modern or traditional gardens. Order your Lucas European Hornbeam and start shaping your garden with refined structure today from naturehills.com!
