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Wood Atlas - Xylarium

Hornbeam

lat. Carpinus betulus

Hornbeam


Common Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) ©WillowThe common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is a medium-sized tree, growing to about 80 feet tall. Its trunk can grow up to 3 feet across. The hornbeam is native to Central Europe and over to the Caucasus. It tends to only reach 150 years of age or so, making it rather average in terms of longevity.
The wood of the hornbeam is very hard and is in fact one of the hardest species native to Central Europe. The wood is rather simple and very light, almost white. It is very hard, heavy, and very dense. It is still used for hardwood flooring, planer bases, and tool blocks, but it also has its use in instrument making, namely as hammers for the piano. Historically, its use was much more extensive because of its hardness, including looms, gears, and shoe lasts.

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But, as you know, wood is a natural product and what us shown here is only
a sample and the actual piece may vary in color and pattern.

Tip: Use the left and right arrows to navigate; to select the wood currently show, click on the link below the image. The wood atlas is by no means exhaustive and is constantly being expanded. But, on the whole, almost all the woods we have in stock are shown.