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Fagus sylvatica

European Beech

Pronunciation
FA-gus sil-VAT-i-ka
Pronunciation Audio
Family
Genus
Nativity

Central to Southern Europe

Growth Habit

Majestic, dense, upright pyramid to oval or rounded.Low-branched, requiring space to spread.

Hardiness
4
Culture

Similar to F. grandifolia - slightly more tolerant to soil conditions. Prefers most, well drained, acidic soils Sensitive to environmental changes.

Landscape Use

Excellent specimen tree with color, texture and growth habit varying with cultivar. Shallow roots.

Foliage

Silvery green when emerging. Similar to F. grandifolia but rounded to obovate, 2 to 4 inches long, with fewer (5-9) veins. Dark green in summer. Auburn fall color.

Buds

Buds are similar to F. grandifolia long, drawn out, pointed, and scaled.

Bark

Smooth, silver gray on 3 to 4 year-old wood. Young wood an olive-brown, or purplish color. This allows one to separate this plant from F. grandifolia.

Flower

Monoecious, yellow-green. Globular male flowers hang on a long peduncle, females hang from small spikes.

Fruit

Triangular nut encased in a spiky involucre.

Propagation

Seeds, grafting.

Pests
Bronze birch borer
Cultivars

'Asplenifolia' - Finely cut leaves.

'Aureavariegata' - Leaves edged in yellow.

'Pendula' - Weeping.

'Purpurea'- Purple-leaved.

'Purpurea Tricolor' - Purple leaves with white and pink variegation.

'Tortuosa' - Contorted trunk and branches.

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