Plant Library

Other Names:  Common Beech, European Beech

Description:

A stunning large shade tree with very finely cut leaves, providing a fine texture, rich golden fall color; quite particular about growing conditions, requires rich soil and significant moisture, give it lots of room to grow to look its best when mature

Ornamental Features

Cutleaf Beech is primarily valued in the landscape for its decidedly oval form. It has dark green deciduous foliage which emerges light green in spring. The deeply cut ferny leaves turn an outstanding gold in the fall. The smooth silver bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Cutleaf Beech is a dense deciduous tree with a shapely oval form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Cutleaf Beech is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Cutleaf Beech will grow to be about 60 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 45 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 120 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.