Fagus sylvatica

• BOTANICAL NAME: Fagus sylvatica
• PRONUNCIATION: FA-gus  sil-VAT-i-ka
• COMMON NAME: European Beech
• FAMILY:  Fagaceae
• NATIVITY: Central to southern Europe
• GROWTH HABIT: Majestic, dense, upright pyramid to oval or rounded.Low-branched, requiring space to spread; 100' tall x 35'-45' wide.
• HARDINESS:  Zone 4-7
• CULTURE:  Similar to F. grandifolia - slightly more tolerant to soil conditions. Sensitive to environmental changes.
• LANDSCAPE USE: Excellent specimen tree with color, texture and growth habit varying with cultivar.  Shallow roots.
• FOLIAGE:  Similar to F. grandifolia but rounded to obovate, 2"-4" long, with fewer (5-9) veins.
• BUDS: Similar to F. grandifolia.
• 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.
• FRUIT: See F. grandifolia.
• PROPAGATION:  See; cultivars or grafted.
• PESTS:   See F. grandifolia.
• CULTIVARS: 
  • 'Asplenifolia'- Leaves finely cut, fern-like.Confused with F.g. 'Lanciniata'.
  • 'Atropunicae' ('Purpurea') - New leaves purple, change to purple-green.
  • 'Cuprea'- Leaves paler than 'Atropunicea'.
  • 'Fastigiata' - Columnar when young, broader at maturity.
  • 'Pendula'- Weeping form. Highly variable at maturity.
  • 'Rohanii' - Wavy margined, purple leaved plant. Exquisite!
  • 'Riversii'- Leaves deep-purple, color holds well in summer.
  • 'Roseo-marginata' - bright rose fading to white margins
  • 'Tricolor' - Leaves variegated white with irregular pink border.
  • 'Rotundifolia'  - Deep-green, rounded leaves.
  • 'Tortuosa'  - Twisted trunk, branches.  Smaller than species.