Sawa hornbeam (Carpinus cordata) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Sawa hornbeam is an East Asian deciduous tree grown in U.S. arboretums and woodland gardens. The large leaves have a deeply notched, heart-shaped base, and overlapping, leaflike parts wrap the small nuts into long, dangling clusters.

Appearance

Growth form: A deciduous tree that usually reaches 20–30 ft (6–9 m) in cultivation.
Leaves: The leaves are about 2.5–5.5 in (6–14 cm) long, with a distinctly notched, heart-shaped base and many straight side veins.
Flowers: Small greenish male and female hang from the same tree.
Fruit: Many overlapping, leaflike wrap the small nuts into a long, dangling cluster.

Look-alikes

American hornbeamCarpinus caroliniana

Sawa hornbeam usually has larger leaves with a more deeply notched base. Its nut clusters have tightly overlapping coverings; American hornbeam has looser, three-lobed coverings.

Why they get mixed upBoth are hornbeams with toothed leaves and hanging nut clusters.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Mountain forests
Woodland gardens
Range: Native to East Asia, including Korea and Japan. U.S. collections grow it in places such as North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Preferred conditions: In U.S. gardens it does well in moist, well-drained soil and partial shade. It can grow in 5a–8b.

Name and classification

About the name: Sawa hornbeam is also called heartleaf hornbeam.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: Its broad leaves make it useful as a small shade tree in woodland gardens.

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