No deciduous tree is as common in Germany as the beech. Whether as a red beech, copper beech or weeping beech - the beech is not only planted in forests, but also in parks and large gardens. Beech trees are very popular as hedge plants.

Whether standing alone or in the forest: the beech makes a stately impression

The beech: a profile

  • Botanical name: Fagus sylvatica
  • Other names: copper beech, copper beech, weeping beech
  • Plant Family: Beech Family
  • Occurrence: Europe
  • Species: about 240
  • Age: up to 320 years
  • Size: up to 40 meters, occasionally up to 45 meters
  • Growth in height: about 50 cm per year
  • Width growth: about 35 to 45 cm per year
  • Wood: Light, slightly reddish, muted red
  • Trunk: up to two meters in diameter
  • Bark: first dark green/black, later silver-grey, smooth, little grained
  • Roots: Central root with lateral runners, shallow roots
  • Leaves: alternate, ovate, hardly serrate, slightly wavy
  • Leaf size: 5 - 11 cm long, 3 - 8 cm wide
  • Autumn colour: common beech yellow-orange, copper beech red-orange
  • flowers: inconspicuous, monoecious
  • Fruits: beechnuts (nuts)
  • Harvest time: September - October
  • Toxicity: Beechnuts are slightly poisonous, leaves are edible
  • Hardiness: absolutely hardy
  • Use: beech hedges, single trees in parks and gardens, forest
  • Use of the wood: furniture, toys, industrial wood, firewood

Hornbeams are not beeches

Even if they are often counted among the beeches, hornbeams are not beeches, but birch plants. Its botanical name is: Carpinus betulus.

Hornbeams have harder, more resilient wood. The requirements for care are similar for both tree species.

Beech species in Germany

In Germany, only the common beech plays a major role. In addition to the common beech, copper beeches and weeping beeches are also grown.

The name red beech is misleading because the beech has green leaves. Only the copper beech can be recognized by its dark red foliage. The beech is called red beech because of the slightly reddish wood. It takes on a red tone under steam.

What are books used for?

In the garden, beeches are very popular as a hedge plant. As individual trees, they need a lot of space and are therefore mainly planted in large gardens and parks.

Beech wood is very easy to work with. However, it warps quickly, so it is not used as often as industrial wood as, for example, hornbeam wood.

Beeches provide shelter for a variety of insects. Birds like to use the treetops and beech hedges to build their nests.

Peculiarities of the beech

A special feature of the beech makes it a popular hedge plant. The tree, which tolerates pruning well, often keeps its foliage well into winter. In some species, the leaves only fall off when the beech sprout again. A beech hedge is opaque even in winter, although it is actually summer green and not evergreen.

tips

The fruits of the beech are called beechnuts. Unlike the leaves, they are slightly poisonous. In times of need, they were still eaten, because the poison can be neutralized by roasting or heating.

Category:

Trees