Fagus sylvatica

Description and General Information

• Botanical Name: Fagus sylvatica

• Common Name: European Beech, Common Beech

• Plant Type: Deciduous tree

• Origin: Native to Europe, including the UK and Ireland.

• Growth Habit: Large, stately tree with a broad, domed crown; can grow to 30–40 metres tall in maturity.

• Foliage: Lustrous green leaves in spring and summer, turning rich copper, golden yellow, and bronze in autumn before falling. Retains some dry leaves through winter when used as a hedge.

• Flowers: Small, inconspicuous catkins in late spring.

• Fruit: Produces small, triangular nuts called beech mast, which are enjoyed by wildlife.

• Seasonal Interest: Fresh green foliage in spring, deep summer shade, stunning autumn colour, and architectural winter form.

• Garden Uses: Ideal as a specimen tree in large gardens, avenue planting, or clipped into formal hedges.

• Wildlife Benefits: Provides food for birds and mammals; dense canopy offers shelter for many species.

• Hardiness: Fully hardy across the UK and Ireland, tolerating frost and wind.

Planting Conditions and Ideal Location

• Light Requirements: Prefers full sun to partial shade; best autumn colour is achieved in full sun.

• Soil Preferences: Thrives in fertile, well-drained soil; tolerates clay, loam, or chalk-based soils if not waterlogged.

• pH Range: Neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 6.5–7.5).

• Moisture Needs: Prefers moist but well-drained conditions; avoid waterlogged or very dry sandy soils.

• Planting Time: Best planted in autumn or early spring while dormant. Container-grown plants can be planted year-round in suitable conditions.

• Spacing: For hedges, plant 30–60 cm apart depending on desired density; as a tree, allow at least 10 metres clearance from buildings.

• Shelter Needs: Tolerates wind but avoid exposed coastal sites with salt spray.

• Companion Planting: Works well with hornbeam, oak, and other native trees in mixed woodland settings.

• Container Growing: Not suitable for long-term container growth due to eventual size, but young plants can be kept in pots before planting out.

Routine Care, Feeding, and Seasonal Maintenance

• Watering:

  • Water regularly during the first 1–2 years after planting to help establish roots.

  • Once mature, requires little additional watering except in prolonged drought.

• Feeding: Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring for young trees and hedges to encourage healthy growth.

• Pruning:

  • As a hedge, prune once or twice annually—light trim in late spring and a harder cut in late summer.

  • As a tree, minimal pruning is needed; remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late winter.

• Mulching: Apply a 5–8 cm mulch layer of compost or well-rotted manure around the base each spring to conserve moisture and improve soil health, keeping mulch away from the trunk.

• Pest and Disease Resistance: Generally robust; may occasionally be affected by aphids, caterpillars, or fungal leaf spots, but rarely seriously.

• Winter Care: Fully hardy and does not require protection; hedging may hold onto dry leaves in winter for privacy.

• Weed Control: Keep the base free of weeds and grass for the first few years to reduce competition for moisture and nutrients.

• Longevity: Fagus sylvatica is a long-lived species, often thriving for well over 100 years in ideal conditions.

• Size
  60- 80cm C2 ltr - P17

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.