- Hornbeams have different male and female flowers
- structure of the flower
- flowering time of the hornbeam
- Hornbeams belong to the birch family
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A hornbeam only flowers when it is at least 20 years old. At first, only a few flowers appear that are not yet fertile. Only when the tree has reached an age of 30 to 40 years do the nutlets develop in autumn.
The hornbeam flowers for the first time after 20 years
Hornbeams have different male and female flowers
Hornbeams are monoecious. The tree bears male and female flowers that look very different.
Pollination is by wind and only occasionally by insects. A second hornbeam is not needed for pollination.
structure of the flower
Female Blossom:
- about 3 cm long
- green
- nondescript
Male flower:
- 4 - 7 cm long
- long drooping
- greenish yellow color
The female flowers are inconspicuous. They appear as the leaves sprout. They form only small kittens, no more than three centimeters long, and are green in color.
The male flowers are more conspicuous. They are kitten-shaped, yellow, and between four and three inches long. They hang long.
flowering time of the hornbeam
It takes a long time for the hornbeam to bloom for the first time. Depending on the location, the first flowering begins after about 20 years. The hornbeam matures when it is 30 to 40 years old. Only then do the nutlets form in autumn.
The flowering period begins in May and can last until June.
Hornbeams belong to the birch family
Many people suffer from pollen allergies during flowering of birch trees. Since the hornbeam is not a beech but a birch family, sensitive people can also develop allergies when the hornbeam is in bloom.
tips
Unlike beech, the nuts of the hornbeam are not poisonous. They can even be eaten raw, but usually taste very bitter.