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Overview
Fagus sylvatica or the Common Beech is a long lived, tall, deciduous tree with attractive, intricately cut, ovate, shiny leaves that turn brilliant, reddish brown in autumn.
It takes on a pyramidal shape and bears drooping balls of yellow flowers in spring.
It can be clipped as a hedge - it is deciduous, but will often retain many of its browned leaves (a process called marcescence) so it makes a useful and attractive screen even in winter.
As hedges they are also a great barrier, even in winter, the stiff branches providing a good deterrent to anything wanting to pass through.
Soil: Well drained deep fertile soils, it cannot tolerate waterlogging.
They like a humid environment with plenty of rainfall, which is why they have naturalised so well in the UK.
As beech forests are relatively dark, the young plants do not like a lot of direct sun until they become more etsabliashed
Maintenance: Mulch well to maintain moisture, water well in summer, annual feed of balanced, slow release fertiliser in spring.
Keep well watered until established.
Diseases: Aphids and powdery mildew.
Other Species: 10 species including F. grandifolia and F. orientalis.
Fagus sylvatica has a purple variety 'purpurea' otherwise known as the Copper Beech.
There is also a weeping variety - Fagus sylvatica Pendula Group
And the Golden Beech - Fagus sylvatica Zlatia has wonderful golden leaves in spring.
Comments: These are very long lived trees, sometimes reaching their 300th birthday. They need 30 years to reach full maturity.
The timber is prized for furniture making, being very workable, especially when steamed. You will see it in parquetry, stairs, chairs and tables.
The nuts were a food source up to the middle ages, after and soaking to remove the tannins. they were also pressed to remove the oils which were used for cooking and lamps.
Author: Bob Saunders.