Carpinus caroliniana Fire Belle™

This tree is on fire!  Selected by our friend Mike Yanny for its flaming, brilliant-red fall color, we think this American Hornbeam is the brightest of any in the trade. A small tree with a moderate growth rate, Fire Belle develops a rounded crown and dense branching that provides good cover for songbirds and other wildlife.

An adaptable species that can tolerate wet sites, this low-maintenance tree is at its best when planted in sandy or clay loams in slightly acidic soil. It performs best in full sun or partial shade with regular moisture, where it becomes dense and more uniform. Ideal in a naturalized setting along a stream or pond, or as a specimen tree. Fire Belle is certain to light up your garden space through the cool days of autumn.

An excellent choice for naturalized settings along streams and ponds, the seed and buds of Carpinus provide a food source for songbirds, quail, turkeys, and small animals. A wildlife friendly tree, perfect for a pollinator or children’s garden, acting as a larval host plant for the Eastern Swallowtail and Red-spotted Purple butterflies.

Small in stature yet brilliant in fall color, Fire Belle fits as well in an urban setting as it does in a natural landscape. It is without a doubt the brightest Hornbeam in the trade!

The tree was first picked from a crop of about 600 seedling whips. Most trees in the crop were damaged by a severe winter that damaged the majority of the tree's roots to the point that the crop died.  12 trees of the 600+ had shown good orange or red fall color the previous fall, had good growth rates, and were not damaged by the severe winter. ‘JN Select A’ was the best of these 12 trees. The tree develops a round head with age.

A six-year-old plant from a graft in Wisconsin will be about 1-3/4” in caliper and have a head on it that is 5’ wide by 6’tall. This is considerably faster than the typical Carpinus caroliniana seedlings grown in the past.

Fire Belle™ was selected by Michael Yanny at Johnson’s Nursery in about 2002 for its consistent orange-red fall color, fast growth rate, excellent form and branching, and superior hardiness.

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