{"id":2239,"date":"2011-11-18T18:07:18","date_gmt":"2011-11-18T23:07:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whatgrowsthere.com\/grow\/?p=2239"},"modified":"2011-11-18T18:07:18","modified_gmt":"2011-11-18T23:07:18","slug":"european-beech-prefers-cool-climes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatgrowsthere.com\/grow\/2011\/11\/18\/european-beech-prefers-cool-climes\/","title":{"rendered":"European Beech Prefers Cool Climes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Fagus sylvatica 'Pendula' in a Boston, MA Park<\/p><\/div>\n

European Beech (Fagus sylvatica<\/em>) is native to the cool temperate regions of\u00a0Europe. In the U.S. it is more at home in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, \u00a0and Northwest regions (USDA Hardiness \u00a0Zones 4 to 7) where summers are cool.\u00a0European beech\u00a0grows in full sun and moist, well-drained soils,\u00a0ranging from mildly acidic to low basic.\u00a0The tree suffers in the Southeastern U.S. heat and waterlogged clay soils.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Because of its large size and slow growth rate, European beech needs a few years to adapt to its planting site. Utilize\u00a0this large\u00a0specimen shade tree\u00a0in public parks, golf courses,\u00a0commercial properties and estates. European Beech grows 50 to 60 feet high and 40 feet wide with a dense, upright, oval form. It grows 10-20 % smaller than American beech (F. grandifolia<\/em>) and its trunk bark is a darker gray.<\/p>\n

European beech is a long lived. Trees planted by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello in 1807 survived almost 150 years.\u00a0Very little vegetation grows under\u00a0its dense\u00a0tree canopy which\u00a0carpets and shades the ground beneath with leaf mulch. Livestock, wildlife, and humans snack on\u00a0beechnuts.<\/p>\n

Leaves are dark green in summer and turn a stunning russet brown in the autumn. Two to three year old established trees can tolerate short 1-2 week\u00a0long drought spells.\u00a0 Purple leaved cultivars tend to be less summer heat tolerant.<\/p>\n

European beech responds well to heavy pruning and several together are\u00a0grown\u00a0as a tall\u00a0hedge in Europe. Foliage and twigs are not tolerant of salt, including de-icing salts used on roadways.<\/p>\n

European beech\u00a0lists over 30 cultivars which includes these popular six:<\/p>\n