Carpinus are deciduous shrubs and trees with attractive foliage and hop-like fruit clusters in late summer and autumn. ‘Frans Fontaine’ is the narrowest of all the Carpinus, even more so than ‘Fastigiata’. Reaching a height of 10m it will only branch out to a width of 3m. The new branches are light grey, darkening and smoothing out with maturity. Foliage is bright green throughout the summer, with serrated edges. Autumnal colour is a warm golden yellow. Ideal for a stately avenue tree.