Hornbeam identifiaction

[Mike423]

Hey everyone I decided to make a new thread on this subject which was discussed little in Lupe21's thread but didn't want to jack it. I have a Hornbeam I am looking to identify, I have been lead to believe it is a European or an American variety by what little information I have been available to find online as a cross reference. I am not really familiar with this species though and am just wondering if anyone might be able to help me out.

All of the leave just about fell off yesterday since it was gusty but I included a picture of the tree and of some leaves. The leaves pictured are just about as large as they get (or have gotten) and are pictured with one facing up and one down. The leaves are also all completely bright yellow which rules out the possibility of the tree being a Korean Hornbeam

 

[daveskib]

Mine is supposed to be a Korean Hornbeam too and its leaves turn yellow too.

 

[lupe21]

are green buds in fall bad, sorry my thread seems to be getting ignored now

 

[Mike423]

Are you sure your Hornbeam isn't misidentified? I was under the impression that The Korean variety is suppose to have fall color consisting of multiple hues.
Are the buds just a little green or do they seem like they are beginning to swell and bulge as they do in spring, before they are about to unfurl? If you would like and or think it might help I could try to get a few pictures of the buds on mine as well for reference, but if I remember right mine might have a little greenish hue to them as well??.

I would take care of your tree as tenderly as possible this winter and try to store it in a shed, garage or other similar area this winter and try not to let the temps get too low. Preferably keeping it around 40 degrees or so if you believe the tree is weakened and in bad shape.

 

[lupe21]

okay cool ,sorry to ask this on your thread, but when brian said not good i freaked out ,the buds dont seem to be getting to be getting bigger or dieing when it get colder ill move the tree into the garage the temp is still around the 60s in the daytime itll be nice of you if you can take pictures of the buds on your tree

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Lupe's is a K. coreana; maybe from the same Bonsai West batch as mine. Mike, yours looks like American Hornbeam, C. caroliniana

The problem with green buds forming now is that a freeze will kill them if they're far enough along, so you want to keep the tree cold now, slow the buds down, and get it dormant ASAP so you have a chance of preventing them from opening until spring. There is a good chance you'll lose some ramification in the spring and will be forced to work with whatever grows. You're roughly in the same zone as me, and I'd say keep it in the shade, keep it cool, and do not baby it. You'll have some damage, but hopefully keep the tree alive.

 

[JudyB]

Brian, could sticking the budding tree in a fridge asap send the tree into dormancy before it gets too far along to save the buds? Just a thought. Course they'd have to throw out all the leftovers....

 

[Mike423]

Here's those photos Lupe. I tried to blow them up without blurring them out but dont know how well they show.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Brian, could sticking the budding tree in a fridge asap send the tree into dormancy before it gets too far along to save the buds? Just a thought. Course they'd have to throw out all the leftovers....

That could cause a whole host of new problems and I just wouldn't try to manipulate it any further than keeping it in shade and as cool as possible (outside) until spring. It's likely many of the swelling buds will "blast" over the winter, and the tree will send out advantageous buds from somewhere further back.

A few years ago, we had a record drought and by July/August, most of the trees in the area had shed their leaves, particularly the Bradford Pears. We finally got rain in September, and by October, they were in full bloom about everywhere you looked. It was very odd, but by the next spring, they were fine again.

 

[lupe21]

thanks man the buds on my tree look exactly like this, i wish their were clubs near me but unfortunely their isnt