Fagus sylvatica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FAG-us sil-VAT-ee-kuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Slow to leaf out in spring; excellent specimen tree; dislikes summer heat; smooth attractive, gray bark.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Asplenifolia'
- 'Atropunicea'
- 'Atropunicea cuprea'
- 'Dawyck Purple'
- 'Purple Fountain'
- 'Purpurea'
- 'Roseomarginata'
- 'Tortuosa'
- 'Tricolor'
- 'Uniq'
Leaves have a fern-like appearance
Purple leaves and copper fall color - 'Atropunicea'
- 'Asplenifolia', 'Atropunicea', 'Atropunicea cuprea', 'Dawyck Purple', 'Pendula' (f. pendula), 'Purple Fountain', 'Purpurea', 'Riversii', 'Roseomarginata', 'Tortuosa', 'Tricolor', 'Uniq'
- Tags:






- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Asplenifolia'
- 'Atropunicea'
- 'Atropunicea cuprea'
- 'Dawyck Purple'
- 'Purple Fountain'
- 'Purpurea'
- 'Roseomarginata'
- 'Tortuosa'
- 'Tricolor'
- 'Uniq'
Leaves have a fern-like appearance
Purple leaves and copper fall color - 'Atropunicea'
- 'Asplenifolia', 'Atropunicea', 'Atropunicea cuprea', 'Dawyck Purple', 'Pendula' (f. pendula), 'Purple Fountain', 'Purpurea', 'Riversii', 'Roseomarginata', 'Tortuosa', 'Tricolor', 'Uniq'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Fagus
- Species:
- sylvatica
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Europe
- Edibility:
- EDIBLE PARTS: Nutmeats, in small quantities, edible raw or cooked. Young leaves can be cooked for greens in the spring. SAFE HANDLING
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- 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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- a 3-angled nut inside of a weakly spiny husk.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Non-showy flowers; small, nut-like structureMonoecious yellowish green flowers bloom in April-May, the male flowers in drooping, long-stemmed, globular clusters and the female flowers in short spikes. Female flowers give way to triangular nuts enclosed by spiny bracts.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-4 in. alternate, simple leaves; russet to golden bronze fall col
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Bark Description:
- Trunks have distinctive bark that is thin, smooth and gray.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Flowering Tree
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer