Beech is most commonly available as the species with bright green leaves in spring that darken towards summer before turning copper in the autumn, they then turn brown over winter if they are retained which only happens when used as hedging, large tree forms lose most or all of the leaves in the winter.

Growing Details

Common Name: Green Beech
Genus: Fagus
Species: sylvatica
Skill Level: Beginner
Exposure: Full sun
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light, Chalky/alkaline, Dry
Height: 30m
Spread: 1500cm
Spacing: 3 Plants Per Metre Single Row, 5 Plants Per Metre Double Row

Description

It also takes very well to being grown as a hedging plant producing superb hedges that can be used in formal or informal settings. Beech hedges make effective windbreaks and sort of span the evergreen / deciduous boundary as whereas they are deciduous, they retain the dead leaves on the branches through the winter until they are pushed off by new shoots in the spring time. They are not completely bare and twiggy therefore when grown as a hedge.

Beech can be planted as a single specimen tree which will grow to a maximum height of 30 metres but it will shed it's leaves in Autumn.