How do hornbeam, white elm, field maple and wild service tree react to climate change?
Researchers have attempted to answer this question by analyzing their behavior after heatwaves and droughts, and comparing it with the better-known behavior of oak and beech.
The results show :
- Reduced growth and higher variability than oak or beech (except for white elm).
- Better adaptation to drought than beech, and sometimes even oak, especially in the case of field maple and blackbeam.
- The study concludes that these species are well suited to mixed plantings. Hornbeam accompanies beech well on wet sites, while on drier sites, field maple and blackbeam are good companions for oak.