This information is provided as a free service to viewers. We do not sell these plants.
Overview
Fagus lucida is an elegant, tall, deciduous tree with attractive, intricately cut, ovate, glossy leaves that turn brilliant, reddish brown in autumn.
It takes on a pyramidal shape and bears drooping balls of yellow flowers in spring with the fruits setting in autumn.
In the wild these trees will reach up to 25 metres tall but in garden conditions they rarely exceed 10 metres.
Fagus lucida is monoecious in that individual flowers are either male or female, but both can be found on the same plant and is wind pollinated.
Although frost hardy the young plants can be susceptible to late spring frosts so keep them protected until mature.
Soil: Light and well drained fertile soils, it cannot tolerate waterlogging.
They grow particularly well in chalk soils.
As beech forests are relatively dark, the young plants do not like a lot of direct sun until they become more established - though these plants will grow in any light conditions.
With many surface roots it makes it difficult for any other plants to grow closeby.
Maintenance: Mulch well to maintain moisture, water well in summer, annual feed of balanced, slow release fertiliser in spring.
Keep well watered until established.
Propagate from fresh seed (as they lose their viability quickly) and protect young seedlings from frost.
Diseases: Aphids and powdery mildew.
Other Species: 10 species including F. grandifolia and F. orientalis.
Fagus sylvatica has a purple variety 'purpurea' otherwise known as the Copper Beech.
There is also a weeping variety - Fagus sylvatica Pendula Group
And the Golden Beech - Fagus sylvatica Zlatia has wonderful golden leaves in spring.
Comments: The nuts were a food source up to the middle ages, after and soaking to remove the tannins.
They were also pressed to remove the oils which were used for cooking and lamps.
Author: Bob Saunders.