Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
The Common Beech is a magnificent tree with dense foliage, 25-30m tall, with widely rounded crown and ovate leaves. The autumn colours range from orange-yellow through copper red to brandy. The triangular nuts enclosed in thorny husks are edible.
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Appearance
The Common Beech is a magnificent tree with dense foliage, 25-30m tall, with widely rounded crown and ovate leaves. The autumn colours range from orange-yellow through copper red to brandy. The triangular nuts enclosed in thorny husks are edible.
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Autumn
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Leaves
Ovate, slightly scalloped leaves, 5-10cm long, 3-6cm wide, leaf stem 0.5-1.5cm long. Fresh green leaves appear early, turning a glossy green above, pale green below. Magnificent yellow autumn colour.
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Leaf upperside
Ovate, slightly scalloped leaves, 5-10cm long, 3-6cm wide, leaf stem 0.5-1.5cm long. Fresh green leaves appear early, turning a glossy green above, pale green below. Magnificent yellow autumn colour.
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Leaf underside
Ovate, slightly scalloped leaves, 5-10cm long, 3-6cm wide, leaf stem 0.5-1.5cm long. Fresh green leaves appear early, turning a glossy green above, pale green below. Magnificent yellow autumn colour.
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Flowers
Flowering period IV-V, yellow-green clusters, monoecious, appear on young shoots with the leaves; female flowers with hairy perianth, upright.
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Fruits
Edible nuts in thorny capsules, 3-sided, with 2 seeds, located in very woody 3cm long beechmasts with soft spines on the outside.
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Bark
Silvery-grey bark is grey, sometimes brown in the furrows, smooth; branches are dark brown, brown or pale brown.
Application
Open country, afforestation, open fields, screening, noise abatement, wind-break, forage for honey-bees, public areas, parks, backyards, topiary
Native regions
Central and northern Europe
Location parameters
Light: sunny to stark shady, temperature: warm to cool, soil: slightly dry to moist stagnant moisture: to be avoided, soil structure: firm to loose, soil depth: medium to very deep, soil quality: medium, pH value: 5.0 to 7.5
Demands
Sun to shade, older trees are intolerant of sudden exposure; intolerant of heat, moderately frost-hardy; avoids dry soil and air; all nutrient-rich substrates, intolerant of industrial emissions, salt, soil pollution
Growth
Height of growth: 25m to 30m, spread: 15m to 20m, moderately rapid growth potential, growth habits: wide, rounded, dense, compact crown, central leader
Leaves
Ovate, slightly scalloped leaves, 5-10cm long, 3-6cm wide, leaf stem 0.5-1.5cm long. Fresh green leaves appear early, turning a glossy green above, pale green below. Magnificent yellow autumn colour.
Flowers
Flowering period IV-V, yellow-green clusters, monoecious, appear on young shoots with the leaves; female flowers with hairy perianth, upright.
Fruits
Edible nuts in thorny capsules, 3-sided, with 2 seeds, located in very woody 3cm long beechmasts with soft spines on the outside.
Bark
Silvery-grey bark is grey, sometimes brown in the furrows, smooth; branches are dark brown, brown or pale brown.
Roots
Heart-rooter or surface-rooter with the highest density of fine roots found among European trees