About
Carpinus caroliniana 'Red Fall' is a medium-sized deciduous tree that features smooth blue-grey bark in its youth, transitioning to a fissured texture as it ages. With a broad conical crown, it can attain heights of up to 12 meters (40 feet) at maturity. The leaves start out reddish before maturing to a green hue during summer, ultimately transforming into a vibrant orange-red in the fall. In April, this tree produces separate male and female catkins on the same specimen. Following pollination, the female flowers develop into clusters resembling hops by late summer to autumn, containing winged seeds that are carried away by the wind when they are ready to disperse.
About the genus
Carpinus comprises deciduous shrubs and trees known for their appealing leaves and clusters of hop-like fruits that appear in late summer and autumn.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Trees
- Habit
- Bushy, Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 8-12 metres
- Spread
- 4-8 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Easy to grow in most soils, as long as they are reasonably moist and well drained
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1
- Propagation
- Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring and early summer or grafting
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to caterpillars and aphids
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to powdery mildews, coral spot and sometimes honey fungus