They are polyphagous in various species of herbaceous plants and deciduous trees, mainly feeding on Corylus avellana, Carpinus betulus, Fagus sylvatica, Acer campestre, Sambucus racemosa, as well as on Alnus, Crataegus, Rosa, Quercus species.
The leaves provide food for some animals, including Lepidoptera such as the case-bearer moth Coleophora anatipennella.
Larvae feed on various coniferous trees, including Taxus baccata, Abies alba, Carpinus betulus, Betula, Quercus, Prunus spinosa, Vaccinium uliginosum, Lonicera xylosteum and Picea.
In 1282, Heimbuchenthal, whose name comes from the hornbeams (Hainbuchen in German), had its first documentary mention.