Content
- Worth knowing about the fruit of the hornbeam
- Building the fruits
- When are the fruits of hornbeam ripe?
- Growing hornbeam from nuts yourself
- Sow hornbeam
- Frequent cutting prevents the fruit from ripening
- The nut of the hornbeam is not poisonous
- Tips
The fruits of the hornbeam are not poisonous
Worth knowing about the fruit of the hornbeam
Since the hornbeam, despite its name, is not a beech, but a birch plant, it bears no beechnuts. The fruits are nuts, so-called wing nuts. The fruits of the hornbeam are not poisonous in contrast to the fruits of the European beech. They are even edible.
Building the fruits
The fruit of the hornbeam consists of a small, approximately one centimeter long nut, which is enclosed by a three-leafed leaf. The green leaf supplies the nut with nutrients.
Once the fruit is ripe, the cover disc turns brown and dries.
When are the fruits of hornbeam ripe?
The hornbeam seeds ripen in September and October. They are blown by the wind from the tree. The cover sheet looks like a propeller that blows the nut up to a kilometer away.
At her new location, she remains in the ground for up to two years until she germinates. The fruits have a germ inhibition and only go on when they have survived a prolonged frost phase.
Growing hornbeam from nuts yourself
If you want to propagate hornbeam yourself, you can try to sow new trees from the fruit of the tree.
For this you need the seeds that you find in the forest or field rains. If you already grow a hornbeam in the garden, you can also harvest nutlets here.
In order to overcome the germ inhibition, you must provide for a cold period. Put the nuts in a dark container for a few weeks in the refrigerator or sow them in place.
Sow hornbeam
When sowing in the field, you must remember that many animals like to harvest hornbeam fruits. There is a risk that squirrels and mice will eat the nuts. Therefore, sow the fruits in small pots that you place in a shady place.
It takes up to two years until the seed germinates and a new hornbeam begins to grow.
Frequent cutting prevents the fruit from ripening
If the hornbeam is pulled in the hedge, wait for flowers and later fruits mostly in vain. Due to the frequent pruning in spring and summer, the buds are removed.
The nut of the hornbeam is not poisonous
While unroasted beechnuts can cause slight symptoms of intoxication when consumed, the fruits of the hornbeam are even edible.
Also for animals, especially horses, hornbeam fruits pose no danger. The trees are therefore very well suited as a planting for pastures.
Tips
Hornbeams are monoecious, which means that male and female flowers grow on the tree. The female flower is inconspicuous. The male flower, however, is very noticeable, because it has the shape of a kitten.