Ostrya japonica or the Japanese Hop-Hornbeam is a very elegant tree from the high woodlands of temperate China that deserves much more cultivation in the west.
It has a slightly rounded, graceful form and a thick covering of finely etched and sharp toothed leaves.
It also produces some very pretty seed pods, also referred to as 'hops' which dangle from the branch tips like little lanterns.
Ostrya japonica makes a compact and neat shade tree and goes well in larger lawns and in open woodlands.