Scientific Name: Fagus sylvatica 'Aspleniifolia'
Common Name: fern-leaf beech
Family Name: Fagaceae
Origin: Europe, Garden origin
Hardiness Zone: Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Plant Type: Tree - deciduous
Mature Size: 22 - 30m x 10 - 15m (height x width)
Habit: Dense, Spreading, Twiggy
Form: Oval - vertical, Round
Texture: Medium - fine
Landscape Uses: Shade tree, Specimen plant, Street (boulevard tree), Summer interest, Tall background
Exposure: Full sun
Soil or Media: Alkaline, Well-drained
Leaves: Simple, Dissected, Fern-like, Alternate, Soft flexible, Pinnate venation, Lustrous, Lanceolate, Incised, Pinnately lobed
Flowers: Catkin (ament), Yellow, Apr-May
Fruit: Edible, Nut, (Accessory tissue), White, Green, Brown, Sep-Oct
Key ID Features:
Leaves alternate, most lanceolate, 5-8cm long x 1.5-3cm wide, heavily dissected, petioles about 1cm long. 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.