Fagus sylvatica: Country Or Region Of Origin
Eastern Europe
Plant Profile: Fagus sylvatica
Taxonomy: Fagus sylvaticaNames
European Beech
Phonetic Spelling:FAG-us sil-VAT-ee-kuh
Genus:Fagus
Species:sylvatica
Family:Fagaceae
In spring, this tree takes its time to develop leaves; it serves as a remarkable specimen tree. It is not fond of the summer heat and features a smooth, appealing gray bark.
For additional details on Fagus, click here.
Fagus sylvatica Feature Summary
Tags
#deciduous
#shade tree
#gray bark
#interesting leaves
#lawn tree
#Beech Tree
Similar Plants
Fagus sylvatica is often confused with:
Fagus sylvatica Feature Summary
Attributes
Eastern Europe
EDIBLE PARTS: Nutmeats, in small quantities, edible raw or cooked. Young leaves can be cooked for greens in the spring. SAFE HANDLING
Perennial
Fruit
a 3-angled nut inside of a weakly spiny husk.
Nut
Flowers
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.
Gold/Yellow
Insignificant
Green
Spring
Leaves
2-4 in. alternate, simple leaves; russet to golden bronze fall col
Deciduous
Gold/Yellow
Brown/Copper
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Simple
Alternate
Elliptical
Ovate
3-6 inches
Glossy
3-6 inches
Bark
Trunks have distinctive bark that is thin, smooth and gray.
Dark Gray
Poisonous to Humans
Upset Stomach
Saponic glycoside
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Poisonous
Deciduous
Rounded
Pyramidal
Medium
Low
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
24-60 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Stem
Landscape
Cottage Garden
English Garden
Shade Garden
Shade Tree
Accent
Specimen
Flowering Tree
Woodland
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Fagus sylvatica Image Gallery
Fagus sylvatica Attributes
Fagus sylvatica: Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: Nutmeats, in small quantities, edible raw or cooked. Young leaves can be cooked for greens in the spring. SAFE HANDLING
Fagus sylvatica: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Fagus sylvatica Fruit
Fagus sylvatica: Fruit Description
a 3-angled nut inside of a weakly spiny husk.
Fagus sylvatica: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Fagus sylvatica: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Fagus sylvatica: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Fagus sylvatica Flowers
Fagus sylvatica: 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.
Fagus sylvatica: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Insignificant
Fagus sylvatica: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Fagus sylvatica Leaves
Fagus sylvatica: Leaf Description
2-4 in. alternate, simple leaves; russet to golden bronze fall col
Fagus sylvatica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Fagus sylvatica: Leaf Color
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Fagus sylvatica: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Fagus sylvatica: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Fagus sylvatica: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Fagus sylvatica: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Fagus sylvatica: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Fagus sylvatica: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Fagus sylvatica: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Fagus sylvatica: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Fagus sylvatica: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Fagus sylvatica Bark
Fagus sylvatica: Bark Description
Trunks have distinctive bark that is thin, smooth and gray.
Fagus sylvatica: Bark Color
Dark Gray
Fagus sylvatica Poisonous to Humans
Fagus sylvatica: Poison Symptoms
Upset Stomach
Fagus sylvatica: Poison Toxic Principle
Saponic glycoside
Fagus sylvatica: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Fagus sylvatica: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Fagus sylvatica Whole Plant Traits
Fagus sylvatica: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Fagus sylvatica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Fagus sylvatica: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Fagus sylvatica: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Fagus sylvatica: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Fagus sylvatica: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Fagus sylvatica Cultural Conditions
Fagus sylvatica: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Fagus sylvatica: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Fagus sylvatica: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Fagus sylvatica: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Fagus sylvatica: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Fagus sylvatica: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
Fagus sylvatica: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Fagus sylvatica Stem
Fagus sylvatica: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Fagus sylvatica Landscape
Fagus sylvatica: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Fagus sylvatica: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Fagus sylvatica: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Fagus sylvatica: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
