Chinese Beech Fagus engleriana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FAG-us eng-ler-ee-AY-nuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Chinese Beech is a flowering, deciduous tree, usually multi-stemmed, though populations of single-stemmed trees are known in its native China. The Chinese Beech has alternate, simple toothed leaves with 1 tooth for each secondary vein. The flowers are small and inconspicuous and the fruit is a 3-angled nut inside of a weakly spiny husk. The tree is slow to mature in cool locations, but can reach an eventual height of 70 feet.
Chinese Beech does best planted in well-drained fertile soils in full sun to partial shade. Young trees are shade tolerant, but subject to frost damage and it is best to provide them protection from winter winds.
This is a moderate sized tree with a light branching structure and dainty leaves, which have been described as ‘sea-green’ on account of their glaucous undersides when young. As the tree matures, the leaves will turn yellow-bronze in autumn. These trees are suitable as a shade tree for homes, parks, libraries, and other municipal spaces. The are typically found in forests or natural area in rich woods, but are most often used as a cultivated tree in an urban landscape.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Fagus
- Species:
- engleriana
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Nuts are pressed for oils. The wood is used in construction and for firewood.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and South East China
- Distribution:
- Western Europe and North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are eaten by mammals and birds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Nutmeats, in small quantities, are edible raw or cooked. Young leaves can be cooked for greens in the spring.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 45 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- A 3-angled nut inside of a weakly spiny husk. The fruit, known as beechnuts or mast, drop in autumn. They are small, roughly triangular and edible, usually with a bitter taste.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The female flowers in April and May are borne in pairs; the male flowers are borne in wind-pollinated catkins in spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Four inch alternate, simple leaves. Glabrous except for long silky hairs on veins below, lateral veins in 9–14 pairs.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
