Fagus sylvatica
European Beech
Central to Southern Europe
Majestic, dense, upright pyramid to oval or rounded.Low-branched, requiring space to spread.
Similar to F. grandifolia - slightly more tolerant to soil conditions. Prefers most, well drained, acidic soils Sensitive to environmental changes.
Excellent specimen tree with color, texture and growth habit varying with cultivar. Shallow roots.
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 are similar to F. grandifolia long, drawn out, pointed, and scaled.
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.
Monoecious, yellow-green. Globular male flowers hang on a long peduncle, females hang from small spikes.
Triangular nut encased in a spiky involucre.
Seeds, grafting.
'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.