SimplePlant

Betulaceae

European hornbeam

Carpinus betulus L.

Family
Betulaceae
Genus
Carpinus

Pets and kids

  • CatsNot sure
  • DogsNot sure
  • KidsSafe
Why

Cats: Not sure

We found no reliable source on this plant for cats, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.

Dogs: Not sure

We found no reliable source on this plant for dogs, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.

Kids: Safe

Sources below say it is non-toxic to young children. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.

European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
FlowerPhoto: Hugo Reyes Aldana, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist

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Is European hornbeam safe for cats, dogs and kids?

Is European hornbeam safe for cats?

We found no reliable source on this plant for cats, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.

Is European hornbeam safe for dogs?

We found no reliable source on this plant for dogs, so we don't call it safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked with your vet.

Is European hornbeam safe for kids?

Our sources call European hornbeam non-toxic to young children. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.

Ate some? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). For a child, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If they are struggling to breathe or collapse, call 911. Don't give anything by mouth unless a vet or poison expert tells you to.

See all cat-safe plants, dog-safe plants and child-safe plants.

Common names

By language (57)
Albanian
Shkoza e bardhë
Arabic
شرد قضباني
arz
شرد قضبانى
Asturian
Carpe
Basque
Xarma arrunt
Belarusian
Граб звычайны, Граб, Граб еўрапейскі, Звычайны граб
Breton
Faou-put
Bulgarian
Обикновен габър
Catalan
Carpí negre
Chinese
欧洲鹅耳枥, 歐洲角樹
Croatian
Obični grab, Grab
csb
Zwëczajny grôbk
Czech
Habr obecný
Danish
Almindelig Avnbøg, Avnbøg
Dutch
Haagbeuk, Helzenteer, Hesselteer, Jukbeuk, Steenbeuk, Wielboom
English
European hornbeam, Common hornbeam, Hornbeam, Caucasian hornbeam
Esperanto
Eŭropa karpeno
Estonian
Harilik valgepöök
Finnish
Euroopanvalkopyökki, Valkopyökki
French
Charme commun, Charme fastigié
frr
Witjbööke
Galician
Carpe
Georgian
Კავკასიური რცხილა
German
Hainbuche, Gemeine Hainbuche, Gewöhnliche Hainbuche, Hagebuche, Hornbaum, Weissbuche, Weißbuche
glk
ممرز
Greek
Γαύρος
Hebrew
אלה לבנה
hsb
Wšědny hrab
Hungarian
Közönséges gyertyán
Icelandic
Agnbeyki
Italian
Carpino bianco
Japanese
セイヨウシデ
Latvian
Eiropas skābardis, Baltais skābardis, Parastais skābardis
Lithuanian
Paprastasis skroblas
ltg
Parostais skroblys
Luxembourgish
Hobich, Hobuch
Macedonian
Обичен габер
mzn
مرز دار
Norwegian Bokmål
Agnbøk
Norwegian Nynorsk
Agnbøk
Persian
ممرز, شرمدار
Polish
Grab pospolity, Grab zwyczajny
Romanian
Carpen
Romansh
Charpin
Russian
Граб обыкновенный, Граб европейский, Граб кавказский
Serbian
Grab, Граб
Serbian (Latin)
Obični grab
sgs
Skruobla
Slovak
Hrab obyčajný
Slovenian
Navadni gaber, Beli gaber
Spanish
Carpe blanco, Haya de espalleres
Swedish
Avenbok, Annbok
Turkish
Adi gürgen
Ukrainian
Граб звичайний, Граб
Uzbek
Oddiy shoxterak
Walloon
Tchårnea ordinaire
Welsh
Oestrwydden

Synonyms

  • Carpinus betulus f. albovariegata C.K.Schneid.
  • Carpinus betulus f. aureovariegata C.K.Schneid.
  • Carpinus betulus f. columnaris (Beissn.) Späth ex Schelle
  • Carpinus betulus f. cucullata H.J.P.Winkl.
  • Carpinus betulus f. fastigiata (G.Nicholson) Schelle
  • Carpinus betulus f. horizontalis Simon-Louis
  • Carpinus betulus f. incisa Aiton
  • Carpinus betulus f. incisa (Aiton) C.K.Schneid.
  • Carpinus betulus f. obtusifolia Petz. & G.Kirchn.
  • Carpinus betulus f. pendula (Massé) H.J.P.Winkl.
  • Carpinus betulus f. purpurea Dippel
  • Carpinus betulus f. purpurea K.Koch
  • Carpinus betulus f. pyramidalis Dippel
  • Carpinus betulus f. quercifolia Desf.
  • Carpinus betulus f. quercifolia (A.DC.) C.K.Schneid.
  • Carpinus betulus f. variegata Dippel
  • Carpinus betulus subsp. carpinizza (Kil.) O.Schwarz
  • Carpinus betulus subsp. serrata (Beck) O.Schwarz
  • Carpinus betulus var. carpinizza (Kil.) Nyman
  • Carpinus betulus var. carpinizza (Kil.) Neilr.
  • Carpinus betulus var. columnaris Beissn.
  • Carpinus betulus var. fastigiata G.Nicholson
  • Carpinus betulus var. obtusifolia G.Kirchn.
  • Carpinus betulus var. pendula (Massé) G.Kirchn.
  • Carpinus betulus var. provincialis Gay ex Gren. & Godr.
  • Carpinus betulus var. quercifolia (Desf.) Tzvelev
  • Carpinus betulus var. quercifolia A.DC.
  • Carpinus betulus var. serrata Beck
  • Carpinus betulus var. typica Koehne
  • Carpinus carpinizza Kil.
  • Carpinus caucasica Grossh.
  • Carpinus compressus Gilib.
  • Carpinus intermedia Wierzb. ex Rchb.
  • Carpinus nervata Dulac
  • Carpinus pendula Massé
  • Carpinus quercifolia Desf. ex Steud.
  • Carpinus sepium Lam.
  • Carpinus ulmifolia St.-Lag.
  • Carpinus ulmifolia Salisb.
  • Carpinus ulmoides Gray

and 1 more.

Flowers

In flower
March to April (from 138 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)

Characteristics

Growth habit
Tree
Lifespan
Perennial
In the US and Canada
Lower 48 states: introduced

Photos

More in Carpinus

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.