Scientific Name:
Fagus sylvatica
'Aspleniifolia'
Pronunciation:
FAY-gus sil-VAT-ih-kuh
Common Name:
fern-leaf beech
Family Name:
Fagaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Leaves alternate, most lanceolate, 5-8cm long x 1.5-3cm wide, heavily dissected, petioles ~1cm long; capsule-like fruit ~2cm long, bristly, open in 4 parts, most with 2 brown triangular "nuts". Winter ID: persistent or fallen leaves; bark smooth, silver-grey, with a horizontal pattern (like an elephant's leg); buds narrowly conical, most 1-2.5cm long x 4-5mm wide, pointed, spear-like, divergent, reddish-brown with grey fuzz.
Habit:
Dense, Spreading, Twiggy
Form:
Oval - vertical, Round
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
22 - 30m
Mature Spread:
10 - 15m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Europe, Garden origin
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Alkaline, Well-drained
Water Use:
Low
Landscape Uses:
Shade tree, Specimen plant, Street (boulevard tree), Summer interest, Tall background
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Dissected, Fern-like
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Lustrous
Colour in Fall:
Yellow, Bronze
Shapes:
Lanceolate
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Attenuate
Margins:
Incised, Pinnately lobed
Additional Info:
Spectacular fall colour
Inflorescence Type:
Catkin (ament), Spike-like
Flower Morphology:
Monoecious plant
Number Of Petals:
0
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Not showy, Yellow
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr, May
Additional Info:
Female flowers in pairs
Fruit Type:
Edible, Nut
Fruit Colour:
White, Green, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Accessory tissue, Edible, Three-angled nuts from compound ovary enclosed in prickly bracts that split open like a capsule
Bark Morphology:
Smooth
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey
Leaf Bud Type:
Narrowly conical
Leaf Scar Shape:
Half-round
Organ Modifications:
Ectomycorrhizae
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Scale insects (Disease resistant)
Course(s):
- HORT 2355
Location(s):
- (BHE) Boulevard by Hwy. 10 Eastend
- (TFL) Turf Field Lab
- (TFLN) Turf Field Lab North