(American Beech)

The American beech is one of the most distinctive and beautiful of the North American hardwood trees. It is a large, deciduous tree best known for its smooth, gray, elephantine bark that people can’t resist carving their initials into (sadly). When mature, it develops a shallow, spreading root system and broad canopy. Both are so dense it is difficult to successfully grow shade-loving annuals and perennials beneath. Native populations inhabit forests across the eastern half of North America, from...

(European Beech)

Native to much of Europe, this magnificent spreading deciduous tree is best known for its silver-gray bark, which is smooth and “elephantine.” Its glossy, elliptic, wavy-edged leaves are bright green when new, darker in summer, and rich bronze in autumn. Sometimes dry tawny brown leaves cling through winter, particularly on young trees. Inconspicuous flowers in spring are followed by small bristly capsules in late summer and fall, which contain one to three nuts. Although eagerly consumed by wildlife,...

(European Beech)

Cherished for its smooth gray bark, elegant deciduous foliage, stately habit, and adaptability, European beech has long been a garden favorite on its native continent and elsewhere. Introduced around 1800, the cultivar 'Asplenifolia' has slender lacy leaves that are often deeply lobed. Shimmering golden-green in spring, the leaves mature to rich green in summer. In autumn they turn shades of yellow, orange and bronze. Inconspicuous flowers in spring give rise to bristly capsules that ripen to tan...

(Dawyck Gold European Beech, European Beech)

Cherished for its smooth gray bark, elegant deciduous foliage, stately habit, and adaptability, European beech has long been a garden favorite on its native continent and elsewhere. A seedling of 'Dawyck' that shares that cultivar's dense narrow columnar habit, 'Dawyck Gold' has bright golden spring leaves that deepen to yellowish green in summer. In autumn they turn shades of yellow, orange and bronze. Inconspicuous flowers in spring usually do not result in fruit. This cultivar is fastigiate when...

(European Beech)

Cherished for its smooth gray bark, elegant deciduous foliage, stately habit, and adaptability, European beech has long been a garden favorite on its native continent and elsewhere. A seedling of 'Dawyck' that shares that cultivar's narrow columnar habit, 'Dawyck Purple' has purple spring leaves that become green-tinged in summer. In autumn they turn shades of yellow, orange and bronze. Inconspicuous flowers in spring usually do not result in fruit. This cultivar is fastigiate when young but broadens...

(European Beech)

Cherished for its smooth gray bark, elegant deciduous foliage, stately habit, and adaptability, European beech has long been a garden favorite on its native continent and elsewhere. A densely branched, narrowly columnar selection that originated in Scotland sometime before 1850, 'Dawyck' forms a tall specimen several times higher than wide. The glossy, elliptic, wavy-edged leaves are luminescent light green when new, dark green in summer, and rich gold or bronze in autumn. Inconspicuous flowers in...

(European Beech, Weeping European Beech)

Cherished for its smooth gray bark, elegant deciduous foliage, stately habit, and adaptability, European beech has long been a garden favorite on its native continent and elsewhere. Introduced in the early nineteenth century, weeping beech comes in many forms. Some specimens are tent-like, with multiple irregular leaders giving rise to branches that spread and then sweep downward to the ground; others are fountain-like, with limbs that droop directly from an upright trunk. The glossy, elliptic, wavy-edged...

(European Beech, Purple Beech)

Cherished for its smooth gray bark, elegant deciduous foliage, stately habit, and adaptability, European beech has long been a garden favorite on its native continent and elsewhere. A seedling of 'Purpurea Pendula' introduced in 1975, 'Purple Fountain' features purple spring leaves and a narrow cascading habit. Relatively compact, this small to medium-sized tree has an upright trunk and drooping branches. The glossy, elliptic, wavy-edged leaves turn purple-green in summer and rich gold or bronze...

(European Beech, Purple Beech)

Cherished for its smooth gray bark, elegant deciduous foliage, stately habit, and adaptability, European beech has long been a garden favorite on its native continent and elsewhere. A purple-leaved cultivar that originated in Germany before 1877, 'Purpurea Latifolia' is similar to the famed 'Riversii'. Its glossy oval wavy-edged leaves emerge metallic purple, mature to dark greenish purple by summer, and turn coppery gold in autumn. Inconspicuous flowers in spring give rise to bristly capsules that...

(European Beech, Weeping Purple Beech)

Cherished for its smooth gray bark, elegant deciduous foliage, stately habit, and adaptability, European beech has long been a garden favorite on its native continent and elsewhere. A dwarf, weeping, purple-leaved cultivar introduced in 1865, 'Purpurea Pendula' is usually top-grafted to form a small domed tree. The glossy, elliptic, wavy-edged leaves turn purple-green in summer and rich gold or bronze in autumn. Inconspicuous flowers in spring are sometimes followed by bristly capsules that ripen...