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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Common beach is a large deciduous tree in the Fagaceae (beech) family native to eastern Europe. The genus name Fagus comes from the family name and sylvatica is Latin for growing in the forest. The flowers are insignificant, it is slow to leaf out in spring and has smooth, attractive gray bark.
Its large shady canopy makes it an excellent choice as a specimen tree in a large yard, planted in a lawn or park setting. It is a little more tolerant of soil types than American beech (Fagus grandifolia). This tree is resistant to browsing by deer. It does not tolerate high summer temperatures.
There are many cultivars of this tree that have various shapes and form, leaf colors, and sizes.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Relatively problem free. Aphids, Japanese beetles, and scale are occasionally a problem. Trees that are under stress may suffer from borer damage. Occasional disease problems include canker, beach bark disease, and powdery mildew.
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
- Profile Video:
- 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:
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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:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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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 Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Monoecious 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
- 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, dark green simple leaves; russet to golden bronze fall color
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Thin, smooth and light 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