Fagus sylvatica (European beech) is truly a magnificent tree with numerous cultivars available in the nursery trade. From stately columns and upright specimens to impressive weepers, these trees bring drama to the landscape. The fantastic abstract of mottled gray bark becomes more distinctive with age. Leaf color adds to the spectacle, with deep reds, greens both dark and light chartreuse, and multi-hued tones. Most cultivars sport oblong or oval-shaped leaves of varying sizes with straight to wavy margins, while a few have deeply cut or narrow leaves.
Columnar forms such as 'Dawyck', 'Dawyck Gold', 'Dawyck Purple', and 'Red Obelisk' look spectacular as solitary sentinels, or they can be planted as hedges or to form an allee.
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| Fagus sylvatica 'Dawyck Purple' |
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| Fagus sylvatica 'Dawyck Gold' |
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| Fagus sylvatica 'Dawyck Gold' |
Among the weeping forms, 'Purple Fountain' is an upright stately tree, its branches hanging gracefully down while the leader reaches skyward. On the other hand, 'Purpurea Pendula' grows as tall as it is staked, with all the branches weeping toward the ground. Given time it can become a superb umbrella-shaped specimen.
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| Fagus sylvatica 'Purple Fountain' |
The finely dissected leaves of 'Asplenifolia' are unusual, but the trunk has the typical mottled beech bark.
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| Fagus sylvatica 'Asplenifolia' |
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| Fagus sylvatica 'Asplenifolia |
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| Fagus sylvatica 'Asplenifolia' |
Cultivars that will work as smaller shade trees include 'Purpurea Tricolor', 'Riversii', 'Rotundifolia', and 'Spaethiana'. Both 'Riversii' and 'Spaethiana' retain dark purple leaves throughout the summer. 'Rotundifolia' has distinctive round leaves, and 'Purpurea Tricolor' has a multi-colored leaf that glows in the sunlight.
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| Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea Tricolor' |
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| Fagus sylvatica 'Rotundifolia' |
Beeches provide year round interest in the garden. Winter offers a study in tree structure and bark character. When spring arrives the swollen buds break open to reveal delicate leaves as lovely as any flower. Summer shows the majesty of the beech in full leaf. The cooling days of autumn turn beeches into shimmering forms cloaked in gold, copper, or burgundy.
