Common Beech Fagus sylvatica

The European beech is a large, graceful, deciduous tree with a short trunk and low branching habit. It grows 50 to 60 feet tall and has dense, erect, oval to rounded crowns. It is often found in parks and golf courses. The European beech is smaller than the American Beech, and it has darker gray bark, and shorter, elliptical leaves with undulated or wavy margins that are ciliate. Yellowish-green and reddish-brown flowers bloom from April to May. The female flowers are short spikes, and the male flowers are long-stemmed, drooping clusters. The female flower produces triangular nuts that ripen in the fall and are edible.

This tree is a member of the Fagaceae or beech family and is native to central and southern Europe to the Caucasus. It is typically found in woodlands  The tree was introduced in North America in the mid-1700s by the colonists. It has become a popular ornamental shade tree. 

The genus name, Fagus, is Latin and comes from the family name. The specific epithet, sylvatica, is Latin and means "growing in the woods".  

The European beech prefers full sun to partial shade and moist well-drained soils. It is intolerant to wet soils or poorly drained soils and does not perform well in urban conditions. It is a little more tolerant of different soil types than American beech (Fagus grandifolia). This tree is resistant to browsing by deer.  It does not tolerate high summer temperatures and is also difficult to transplant. The tree is tolerant of pruning and can be used as a hedge or screen. 

Its large shady canopy makes it an excellent choice as a specimen or shade tree in a large yard or for use in a large lawn or park setting. Many cultivars of this tree are available and have various forms, leaf colors, and leaf shapes.

Seasons of Interest:

Bark:  Winter        Bloom:  Spring             Foliage:  Spring, Summer, and Fall         Fruits: Fall 

Quick ID Hints:

• large deciduous tree with dense, upright, oval to rounded crown
• dark gray, thin, smooth bark, older bark has the appearance of elephant hide
• oval to elliptic, glossy dark green leaves with wavy margins and are ciliate
• reddish-brown female flowers are short spikes, greenish-yellow male flowers are drooping, long-stemmed, globular clusters, occurring in the spring
• fruits ripen in the fall and are triangular nuts with spiny bracts

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  This tree has no serious insect pests or diseases. Aphids, Japanese beetles, caterpillars, and scales are occasionally observed.  Trees that are under stress may suffer from borer damage.  Occasional disease problems include canker, beech bark disease, and powdery mildew.  

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.

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.