Fagus sylvatica 'Rotundifolia'

RHS Plant Profile
beech 'Rotundifolia'

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beech 'Rotundifolia' visionspictures.com
beech 'Rotundifolia' visionspictures.com
Trees
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A medium-large deciduous tree reaching 20m, with round, green leaves about 3.5cm across and silvery-grey bark. Ideal for hedging or as an architectural specimen

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
wider than 8 metres
Max Height
Higher than 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
Columnar upright, 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
  • Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 1; or may be maintained as a hedge

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