{"slug":"fagus-sylvatica","scientific_name":"Fagus sylvatica","common_names":["European beech","Common beech"],"family":"Fagaceae","type":"broadleaf_deciduous","mature_height_m":30,"mature_spread_m":20,"growth_rate":"medium","lifespan_years":300,"hardiness_zones":[4,7],"sun":"full_partial","water":"medium","soil":"Well-drained loams over chalk or limestone; dislikes waterlogging and compacted ground","native_range":"Native across western and central Europe from southern England, France and Spain to Poland, the Balkans and the Carpathians; introduced to Ireland and Scotland.","description":"A majestic smooth-barked tree of 30 to 40 m casting dense shade, with coppery autumn leaves that young or clipped plants hold all winter. Beech forms the great forests of central Europe and the chalk hangers of southern England and is the classic formal hedge. Its mast feeds badgers, mice, squirrels and birds, but little grows under a mature canopy.","care":"Plant bare-root in winter on drained soil; shelter young plants from hot sun and drought in the first two summers. Clip hedges in August; prune trees in late winter. Shallow roots make it vulnerable to drought, soil compaction and heat stress; beech bark disease (scale insect plus Nectria fungus), bracket fungi and Phytophthora are the main threats.","benefits":["shade","wildlife","fall_color","long_lived","carbon"],"uses":["hedgerow","parks","timber","screening","yard_shade"],"cautions":["surface_roots","large_roots"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Fagus-sylvatica-cansiglio-forest-italy.jpg","image_credit":"Wikimedia Commons, file Fagus-sylvatica-cansiglio-forest-italy.jpg (see file page for author and licence)","sources":["https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/beech/","https://www.gbif.org/species/2882316","https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=280764","https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/fagus-sylvatica/"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/fagus-sylvatica","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/fagus-sylvatica.md","regions":[{"country":"AT","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2882316"},{"country":"CH","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2882316"},{"country":"DE","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2882316"},{"country":"FR","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2882316"},{"country":"GB","region":"ENG","locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Native to southern England and south Wales; naturalised further north","source_url":"https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/beech/"},{"country":"GB","region":"WLS","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2882316"},{"country":"PL","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2882316"},{"country":"CA","region":"ON","locality":"Toronto","status":"recommended","note":"On the City of Toronto Species Planted on Streets list","source_url":"https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/trees/tree-planting/species-planted-on-streets/"},{"country":"US","region":"CO","locality":"Denver","status":"recommended","note":"On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree List","source_url":"https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/747/documents/forestry/Street_tree_guide.pdf"},{"country":"GB","region":"SCT","locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Planted and naturalised","source_url":"https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/beech/"},{"country":"IE","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Introduced per WCVP; widely planted and naturalised","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2882316"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}