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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Fagus sylvatica Fagus sylvatica 'Roseomarginata' Tree
Fagus sylvatica f. pendula Photo of Fagus sylvatica f. pendula full
Zelkova serrata Zelkova serrata
Fagus sylvatica 'Asplenifolia' has some common insect problems:
Japanese Beetle

Fern Leaved Beech Fagus sylvatica 'Asplenifolia'

Phonetic Spelling
FAG-us sil-VAT-ee-kuh ass-plee-ni-FOH-lee-a
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

'Asplenifolia' is a cultivar of Fagus sylvantica, the European Beech, and is distinguished by its fern-like leaves, which also give the tree its common name, Fern Leaved Beech. The Fern Leaved Beech is a deciduous tree with leaves cut into slender lobes. The leaves, themselves, are narrow, lanceolate, feathery, fine textured, and fern-like. Small yellow-green flowers bloom in spring, and produce fruit in the form of an edible, triangular nut inside a weak, spiny husk. The Fern Leaved Beech is a medium-size, graceful tree with a short trunk and low branching habit. It grows 40 to 60 feet tall and has a dense, erect, oval to rounded crown. The genus name comes from the Latin name and the species name means of the woods or forest. The cultivar name refers to the resemblance of the leaves to spleenwort fern.

The Fern Leaved Beech prefers full sun to partial shade and moist well-drained soils. It does not do well in wet or poorly drained soils, locations with high summer temperatures, or in urban conditions. It is a little more tolerant of different soil types than the American beech.

This tree is resistant to browsing by deer.  It can be difficult to transplant, but recovers well from pruning and can be used as a hedge or screen. 

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Beech scale is an occasional problem. Watch for Japanese beetles. Stressed trees may be attacked by borers.

VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I:  Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II:  Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University

 

More information on Fagus sylvatica.

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#cultivars#deciduous#shade tree#interesting bark#specimen#slow growing#gray bark#lawn tree#deer resistant#rounded#alkaline soils tolerant#heat intolerant#wet soils intolerant#fall color#urban conditions intolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#cultivars#deciduous#shade tree#interesting bark#specimen#slow growing#gray bark#lawn tree#deer resistant#rounded#alkaline soils tolerant#heat intolerant#wet soils intolerant#fall color#urban conditions intolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Fagus
    Species:
    sylvatica
    Family:
    Fagaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The tree's wood has been used for centuries as firewood or for building furniture, musical instruments, veneer, and flooring.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Wildlife Value:
    The beechnuts are eaten by birds, chipmunks, squirrels, and other small mammals.
    Play Value:
    Edible fruit
    Screening
    Shade
    Wildlife Food Source
    Edibility:
    The beechnuts are toxic if ingested raw in large quantities or they are unripe; however, if the nuts are cooked properly, they may be consumed.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Poisonous
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Oval
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    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
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Nut
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit opens into 4 sections and contains a triangular, or 3-angled, brown nut that measures 5/8 inches long. The fruits are known as beechnuts, and they ripen in the fall and are edible.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    The flowers are monoecious and bloom from April through May. The female flowers are reddish-brown clusters that appear on short stalks, while the male flowers are greenish-yellow, long-stemmed, drooping, and globular clusters. Only the female flowers produce fruits that are triangular nuts enclosed by spiny bracts. The tree may not flower until it is 30 to 80 years old.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Soft
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Cut leaved cultivar with narrow, lanceolate, feathery, fine textured, fern-like, dark green leaves that are deeply dissected into slender lobes. Leaves turn golden brown in fall.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    The bark is thin, smooth, and dark gray. Older tree trunk bark has the appearance of elephant hide.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Buds:
    Scaly
    Stem Form:
    Zig Zags
    Stem Description:
    The stems are slender with a zigzag form and are light brown to gray. The buds are light brown, narrow, long, pointed, and covered with overlapping scales.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Recreational Play Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Edible Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Hedge
    Shade Tree
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    If ingested raw in large quantities or if unripe, the beechnuts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea in humans and dogs. If the beechnuts are properly cooked they can be consumed.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Trimethylamine, oxalic acid
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Seeds