Fagus sylvatica 'Miltonensis'

RHS Plant Profile

beech 'Miltonensis'

Trees

A large deciduous tree reaching 30 tall and possibly wider still, due to the drooping habit of its horizontal branches. It has bright green leaves which become dark yellow-orange in autumn. Its bark, unusually, is a more rugged, dark grey

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: 8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fagaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Pendulous weeping, Spreading branched
Potentially harmful: Pets (dogs): Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Fagus are large deciduous trees with smooth grey bark, ovate leaves colouring well in autumn, and inconspicuous flowers followed by usually spiny fruits
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any free-draining soil in full sun. Dislikes a dry atmosphere. For more advice see Beech cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to bark stripping by deer and rabbits when young, beech scale and beech red spider mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to fungi that cause beech heart rots and honey fungus