Beech

Beech Varieties

The varieties of the Beech, however, are of the highest garden value as lawn trees, and some of the most beautiful weeping trees in England are those of the weeping form of the Beech. The fine character of the pendent Beech is that it is not only graceful in a young state, but improves every year of its life, very old trees being picturesque in a high degree. The fern-leaved variety is one of the best, and the purple Beech is the most striking of our colored trees, and will come true from seed, which is a gain. Even if all the seeds do not come true it does not matter in the least, as long as we get some plants of the color we seek, and in raising trees from seed we always obtain some slight variation. The Copper Beech is a little paler and more coppery than the old purple Beech, and there is a weeping form as well as a dark purple. These dark colored forms should not be used too freely—one to three purple Beeches in each parish are ample.

Fagus sylvatica (Zones 4-7) commonly known as European Beech is basically found in Europe. This deciduous tree reaches upto a height of 48 meters. It is a long living tree, which generally shows a life span of 150 to 200 years. Due to its height, it forms a spherical crown with the branches drooping down to touch the ground.

It has grey and smooth bark upto three meter diameter of its trunk. Leaves are arranged alternatively having wavy edge and are shiny, oval and pale green, which turns glossy green in Summer and on the arrival of Autumn these changes to orange brown. These browned foliage protects leaf buds during Winters. Buds are long and slender in shape, usually 15_30 mm long and 2_3 mm thick.

The flowers are small, shiwing Catkin Inflorescence. During Spring season leaves and flowers appear consecutively. Seeds are triangular in shape and are quite small in size. Fagus sylvatica forms a good variety of Bonsai. It has a fibrous root system which makes easy to transplant them.

Beech Growing Conditions

Fagus sylvatica grows best in full sun but a combination of sunlight also works. Controlled temperature and good rainfall are the factors which need to be considered. Moist, well drained acidic or calcified soil makes the ground best suited. As the plant has shallow and wide root system so an open space should be provided to them. Humidity needs to be constant. Excessively wet soil makes the plant rotten. Prunning of the plant should be done in early summer or early fall. A harmonal subtance is liberated in the early developmental stages by terminal buds so these must be removed from time to time.

Beech Care

• Excessive dryness leads to the death of the plants.
• To produce superb variety of Bonsai, it should be cultivated with Oak plants.
• Young Beech prefer shady parts as they show poor growth in full sun light.
• This plant is too sensitive to spring frost.
• If supplied with too much shade it will turn pale green.

Beech Uses

• Young leaves of Beech are edible and have a nutty flavour, these are use by birds.
• Its wood is used in manufacture of numerous objects and implements.
• It is used for hedging as it responds well to shearing.
• It is an important element in composing a landscape with four-season interest.
• This spcies is widely used as Bonsai specimen.

Beech Pictures

Beech

Beech

European Beech leaf

Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. American beech

Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. American beech

Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.American beech

Related Flowers

American Beech

American Beech (Fagus Americana) - Is in its own country a forest tree well above 100 feet high, inhabiting the northern regions, as well as westwards and southwards, but the European Beech is a so much greater tree, for our climate at least, that less importance is attached to the American sort. See also Nothofagus (Southern Beeches).