Japanese Hornbeam is cultivated as an ornamental tree or shrub. Can grow to 15m (50ft). Flowers open in April, male catkins 2.5-5cm (1-2in) long, females at tips of shoots 1.2cm (½in) long. Fruiting catkins, 5-6cm (2-2½in) long with toothed inward-curving bracts, colour from green to pink-tinged, then crimson in autumn.

The leaves have numerous strong veins, and are longer and darker than European Hornbeam (C. betulus). Bark is smooth pinkish grey or dark with lighter stripes. Zone 8.The wood of hornbeams is very hard, giving rise to the name ironwood and not used much due to the difficulty of working it. Its hardness has, however, lent it to use for carving boards, tool handles, coach wheels and other situations where a very tough, hard wood is required.

Hornbeams are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Autumnal Moth, Common Emerald, Feathered Thorn, Svensson's Copper Underwing and Winter Moth (recorded on European Hornbeam) as well as the Coleophora case-bearers C. currucipennella and C. ostryae.