Fagus sylvatica (common beech)

Fagus sylvatica, better known as the beech hedge or simply beech, is a popular variety when it comes to hedge plants. The plant belongs to the catkin-bearing family and is native to Europe. As a result, many varieties of the plant can be found here. Even though the beech is a deciduous species, this plant has a lot of privacy to offer when planted in a hedge.

Hornbeam

Winter hardiness
Very winter hardy

Pruning
Twice a year

Growth rate
40-60 cm per year

Beech

Winter hardiness
Very winter hardy

Pruning
Twice a year

Growth rate
40-60 cm per year

Copper Beech

Winter hardiness
Very winter hardy

Pruning
Twice a year

Growth rate
30-50 cm per year

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Buy fagus sylvatica (common beech)

Fagus sylvatica, or beech, is a popular species for creating hedges. Not only for aesthetic reasons, but certainly also for practical reasons. In fact, the beech hedge has a number of characteristics that contribute to this. We are happy to list them.

Key features

Some important characteristics of the beech hedge are:

Beeches develop beautiful, fresh green leaves in spring. The leaves are oval to ovoid and have clearly visible veins.
In autumn, the leaves turn from green to orange and then to brown. These spectacular autumn colours make for a beautiful picture.
The beech hedge is a deciduous species. This means that the hedge loses its leaves in winter. This does not happen until late winter, however, so the beech offers a lot of privacy in hedge form.
Beech has a high tolerance to frost and copes well with different soil types. This makes it a popular species for many gardens and other locations.
The species can average between 20 and 30 metres in height, with outliers of up to 35 metres.
A beech hedge lends itself perfectly to pruning. As a result, the species can be pruned into shape quite easily, such as into a tight-knit hedge.
In spring, beech bears small, inconspicuous flowers that are succeeded by triangular nuts in prickly husks.

Tips

The beech hedge should not be confused with the hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). Although the plants are very similar, they are two different species. The tips listed below apply to the beech hedge and not to the hornbeam.

If you want to plant a beech hedge, it is best to do so in well-drained soil, rich in humus and lime. Just make sure the soil is not too wet, as that works detrimental to the beech hedge.
Prune beeches regularly to keep them nicely in shape and remove dead branches. Pruning the Fagus sylvatica into shape is important, especially when forming a hedge with it.
Make sure the plants are in a sunny spot or partially in the shade. The plant does not thrive in fully shaded spots.

Varieties

Our range includes various varieties of plant that we classify as hornbeam. We'll gladly list the different varieties for you:

Carpinus betulus (hornbeam): As we already mentioned, the hornbeam is very similar to the beech hedge. Yet still, it is a different species. Hornbeam is known for its dense, green foliage, which can be used to form a perfect hedge. This species has little preference in terms of positioning, making it ideal for many locations.
Fagus sylvatica (green beech hedge): The green beech hedge, as the name suggests, is known for its green leaves. This beech hedge is evergreen, so the leaves provide a dense hedge all year round, offering plenty of privacy.
Fagus sylvatica 'Atropunicea' (red beech hedge): In addition to the green beech hedge, our range also includes the red beech or red beech hedge. This variety is known for its reddish-brown leaves, with an almost purple undertone. The unique leaf colour paints a pretty picture in your garden.

Ideal placement of a Beech

The advantage of this species is that you can plant the beech hedge in many different places. Beeches thrive in full sun, but also in partial shade. As long as the soil it is planted in is well-drained and not too wet, the Fagus sylvatica will be happy. If you live in a very windy place, make sure the beech hedge is not too exposed.

Planting a Beech

It's best to plant a beech or beech hedge in autumn or early spring, when the plant is dormant and the soil is still nice and warm. When forming a beech hedge, make sure each plant is spaced about 30 to 60 centimetres apart (measured from the centre) to allow the hedge to grow nicely dense. Give the plants plenty of water after planting to keep the soil around the roots nice and moist. Especially during the first few months after planting, watering regularly is essential for solid root development.

Pruning a Beech

It is advisable to wait until the hedge is well rooted before pruning the Fagus sylvatica. Once the hedge has blossomed, it can be pruned afterwards. The best time to do this is in spring. After the initial pruning, the beech hedge can be trimmed regularly to keep it in shape.

Watering a Beech

Regular watering is important for beech hedge plants, especially during times of heat and drought, and in the first few months after planting. Keep the soil evenly moist, but never too wet. Too much water is not good for the roots of a beech.

Fertilising a Beech

For healthy growth and development of the beech hedge, it is important to give the plant sufficient nutrients. You can do this by applying organic fertilisers. It is best to do this in early spring, just before the new blooming period. Applying fertiliser a second time could be done in early summer as an extra stimulation for growth.

The characteristics of a Beech

The special thing about a beech hedge is that there are different species and varieties of the plant, all with different leaf colours. The hornbeam and green beech hedge have mainly green leaves, which turn spectacularly from green to yellow and then orange in autumn. The red beech hedge or red beech, on the other hand, is known for its dark red, almost purple leaves.

The ideal variety for you Buy fagus sylvatica (common beech)

The Fagus sylvatica or beech hedge is a variety that can grow in many places and is easy to prune into tight-knit shapes. This, combined with the fact that the leaves remain on the branches for a long time and the plant forms a dense crown, makes it an ideal variety for creating hedges. With us, the beech hedge comes directly from the nursery, so you can plant it fresh in your garden. The changing colours of the leaves paint a really pretty picture all year round!

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