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Fagus sylvatica (Common beech)

Other names: European beech

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Species
F. sylvatica is a vigorous, spreading, deciduous tree with broadly elliptic to ovate, wavy, glossy, dark green leaves, yellow-green when young and turning reddish-brown in autumn. Small, green flowers in spring are followed by bristly, brown fruit.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
30 m 15 m 20-50 years
98 ft 49 ft 20-50 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Partial Shade
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
  • North
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Grows well in any but waterlogged soil in sun or partial shade.

Suggested uses

Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance, Foliage only, Specimen tree, Topiary

UK hardiness

H6

USDA zones

Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7

Sunset zone

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 2, 3, A3

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Moderate/Medium
Central Valley = High
South Coastal = Inappropriate
South Inland = Inappropriate
High and Intermediate Desert = Inappropriate
Low Desert = Inappropriate

Foliage

Deciduous

Native to

Europe, Caucasus

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Pruning group 1. Hedging should be trimmed back in summer. No other attention is required except the removal of damaged or diseased shoots. If one wishes the tree to retain its distinctive dried-out leaves throughout winter it should be trimmed in late

Propagation methods

Seed

Pests

Aphids

Beech bark scale

Diseases

Bracket fungi on standing trees

Coral spot

Foot and root rot

Heart rot

Beech bark disease

Summer trim laterals of hedges (optional)

Cut back stems when planting as a hedge (optional)

After second year of planting, prune back top and side growth (optional)

Plant container grown plants in deep fertile, well-drained soil

Selective pruning only (only if needed)

Rake up and use fallen leaves to make leafmould

Plant container grown plants in moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Plant in fertile, moisture retentive soil

Plant in moist but well-drained soil (autumn or spring)

Plant in full sun or partial shade (autumn or spring)

Sow seeds in a cold frame in autumn

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (15)

Fagus

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Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea Pendula'
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Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea Pendula' Weeping copper beach
Fagus sylvatica 'Franken'
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Fagus sylvatica 'Franken' Beech 'Franken'
Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea Tricolor'
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Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea Tricolor' Beech 'Purpurea Tricolor'
Fagus sylvatica
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Fagus sylvatica Common beech
Fagus sylvatica 'Dawyck'
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Fagus sylvatica 'Dawyck' Dawyck beech
Fagus sylvatica 'Dawyck Gold'
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Fagus sylvatica 'Dawyck Gold' Beech 'Dawyck Gold'
Fagus sylvatica 'Dawyck Purple'
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Fagus sylvatica 'Dawyck Purple' Beech 'Dawyck Purple'
Fagus sylvatica Atropurpurea Group
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Fagus sylvatica Atropurpurea Group Copper beech
Fagus sylvatica var. heterophylla 'Aspleniifolia'
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Fagus sylvatica var. heterophylla 'Aspleniifolia' Fern-leaved beech
Fagus orientalis 'Iskander'
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Fagus orientalis 'Iskander' Oriental beech 'Iskander'
Fagus sylvatica 'Pendula'
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Fagus sylvatica 'Pendula' Weeping beech
Fagus sylvatica 'Black Swan'
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Fagus sylvatica 'Black Swan' Copper beech 'Black Swan'
Fagus grandifolia
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Fagus grandifolia American beech
Fagus sylvatica 'Purple Fountain'
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Fagus sylvatica 'Purple Fountain' Beech 'Purple Fountain'
Fagus sylvatica (any hedge)
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Fagus sylvatica (any hedge) Common beech (any hedge)
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Companion plants (2)

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Hyacinthoides x massartiana
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Hyacinthoides x massartiana Hybrid bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta
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Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell
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Related content

Discuss Fagus sylvatica with other Shoot members

Acidic fertilizer under beech hedge?

Andrew S
218 0
I bought a house with an established beech hedge. It is nice, but I also want to plant something more colorful at the base underneath its lead level. Azaleas come to mind, but I know they like acidic soil. Will the beech still thrive if I put in azaleas and use acidic fertilizer?
Posted: Friday 2nd of August 2019 12:30 PM Last reply: Sunday 30th of March 2025 01:16 PM

Re: Fagus sylvatica cubes

Ornamental Tree Nurseries
1088 0
Hello,

The reasoning behind the expense of large topiary cubes are the years (and years and years) that go into creating them.

You could plant individual hedging plants at 12 inch intervals as a cheap alternative but it will never be a substitute for a topiary plant and wont give the same effect.

So in answer, 12 inch intervals at the closest for a cheap alternative but by no means a substitute.

Hope that helps.

Kate
Ornamental Tree Nurseries
Posted: Thursday 18th of November 2010 08:43 AM

Fagus sylvatica cubes

Camilla Hiley
1088 1
I was wanting to put in some Fagus sylvatica topiary cubes,approx 1.50 high x 1.00m x 1.00m, but client does not want to pay price for ready formed topiary. Would planting hedging plants of 1.00 high
closely together work, and what spacing would you recommend.
Posted: Wednesday 17th of November 2010 05:04 PM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 07:06 PM
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