hornbeam 'Frans Fontaine'

A narrow, columnar deciduous tree, with smooth, grey bark which darkens with age. The tree can grow to 10m (33ft) high when mature. It bears fresh green leaves in spring and summer, which turn to a rich, golden-yellow in autumn. It can often hold its dead, brown leaves through the winter, before shedding them in spring when it comes into growth once more. This cultivar only produces male catkins which are green and appear in April