Fagus sylvatica (European Beech)
Michael's Opinion
A spectacular tree that is very long lived under ideal conditions in the landscape. A broad canopied tree, this species must be given room to grow. Smooth grey bark, glossy, thin green leaves that can sometimes persist into the winter months on the tree after turning to a tawny brown.
Botanical Information
| Family | Fagaceae |
| Genus | Fagus |
| Species | sylvatica |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Tree (deciduous) |
| Origin | Native to Europe. |
| Pronunciation |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 6b - 7a |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 6b |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H6 (observed growing well in H7) |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -20 to -15 |
| Temperature (°F) | 4 - 5 |
| Height | 15 - 30 m |
| Spread | 11 - 15 m |
| Growth | Slow |
| Flowering Period | April |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | A noble large tree which requires well drained soil. Tolerates moist soils, including chalk. Leaves turn golden-copper in autumn. When trimmed as hedge retains brown leaves through the winter. |
| ID Characteristic | An immense tree, casting deep shade reaching 30 m in height. Smooth grey bark. |
| Shape | Densely pyramidal to oval or rounded. |
| Landscape | As a landscape tree or trained into a hedge. |
| Propagation | Seed should be stratified for 3 - 5 months at 5°C or autumn sown. |
| Cultivation | Grow in well-drained soil in partial-shade. |
| Pests | Coral spot. |
| Notable Specimens | Weldon Library, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. Niagara Parks, Botanical Gardens, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada (Hedge and mature trees). The University of Guelph Arboretum, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Hedge). Lanhydrock Gardens, Cornwall, England. Stourhead Gardens, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Grey, smooth and usually develops an elephant hide appearance on old trunks. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Imbricate, slender 2 - 2.5 cm long, brown and shiny. |
| Leaf Description | Alternate, simple and 2 - 4 cm long. Acute, broadly cuneate or rounded at base, obscurely toothed and undulate. Lustrous dark green above and light green beneath. |
| Flower Description | Monoecious, male and female are separate on the same tree. Pistillate in 2 - 4 flowered spikes. |
| Fruit Description | Triangular nuts, hard, woody, 4-lobed husk covered with bristles and borne singly, standing erect. |
| Colour Description | Leaf colour is a shimmering green unmatched by any other tree, gradually changes to a lustrous dark green in summer and followed by golden bronze colours in autumn. |
| Texture Description | Fine when first leafing out, otherwise of medium texture in full foliage and winter. |
Photographs
A mature tree at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
A large tree in mid-spring.
Fagus sylvatica, autumn form, Lanhydrock Gardens, Cornwall, England.
Fagus sylvatica, leaf. Lanhydrock Gardens, Cornwall, England.
Fagus sylvatica grown as a superb hedge, winter, Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens.
Fagus sylvatica, bud. Lanhydrock Gardens, Cornwall, England.
Scanning electron microscope image of pollen grain.
F. sylvatica 'Dawyck', RHS Garden Rosemoor, North Devon, England.
F. sylvatica 'Dawyck Purple', RHS Garden Rosemoor, North Devon, England.
F. sylvatica 'Pendula'
F. sylvatica 'Atropunicea'
F. sylvatica 'Dawyck Gold'
F. sylvatica 'Purple Fountain'
F. sylvatica 'Red Obelisk'
F. sylvatica 'Asplenifolia'
F. sylvatica 'Tricolor'
F. sylvatica 'Spaethiana'
F. sylvatica 'Latifolia'
Fagus sylvatica 'Rohanii'
F. sylvatica 'Zlatia'
F. sylvatica 'Albovariegata'
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