Fagus sylvatica

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Fagus

  Species:

  sylvatica

  Family:

  Fagaceae

  Life Cycle:

  Perennial

  Edibility:

  EDIBLE PARTS: Nutmeats, in small quantities, edible raw or cooked. Young leaves can be cooked for greens in the spring. SAFE HANDLING

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Poisonous

  Tree

  Leaf Characteristics:

  Deciduous

  Habit/Form:

  Pyramidal

  Rounded

  Growth Rate:

  Medium

  Maintenance:

  Low

  Texture:

  Medium

• 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:

  4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

• 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.

• 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.

• Leaves:

  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

• Bark:

  Bark Color:

  Dark Gray

  Bark Description:

  Trunks have distinctive bark that is thin, smooth and gray.

• Stem:

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Lawn

  Meadow

  Naturalized Area

  Woodland

  Landscape Theme:

  Cottage Garden

  English Garden

  Shade Garden

  Design Feature:

  Accent

  Edible

  Flowering Tree

  Shade Tree

  Specimen

  Resistance To Challenges:

  Deer

• Poison:

  Poison Severity:

  Low

  Poison Symptoms:

  Upset Stomach

  Poison Toxic Principle:

  Saponic glycoside

  Causes Contact Dermatitis:

  No

  Poison Part:

  Seeds