[3] Even though Oriental hornbeam is not particularly closely related to common hornbeam—both being grouped in different subsections of section Carpinus—and have different ploidy levels, they do appear to hybridise in the Caucasus, resulting in the hybrid species Carpinus × schuschaensis.

The seeds have a simple bract, not trilobed like Carpinus betulus, that is about 2 cm long.

[5][6] Oriental hornbeam assumes an extensive but patchy distribution in the central and eastern Mediterranean, Anatolia, the Caucasus and Hyrcania in Iran.

In Europe, the species is broadly distributed in the southern half of Italy, on the Adriatic coast and in the Balkans, chiefly south of the Danube.

In Asia, its distribution becomes patchier in coastal Anatolia, but it also occurs across the Caucasus and the Hyrcanian forest regions.