Oriental beech

Oriental beech: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Large, broad deciduous tree about 25 m tall and 18 m wide, with a round, dense crown.

Leaves

Oval to oblong, glossy dark green, slightly larger than our beech and with many side veins; golden yellow to coppery brown in autumn.

Bark

Smooth and grey, even on older trees.

Flowers

Small, inconspicuous flowers in April–May: hanging male balls and female flowers as the leaves open.

Fruit

Three-sided beechnuts in a prickly husk, falling in autumn.

Flowering: April–May · Harvest and fruit: April–May and September–October · Plants: March–April and October–December · Pruning: August

Why grow it?

• Impressive, majestic tree for a large garden or park, with a smooth grey trunk.
• Golden yellow to coppery brown autumn colour.
• Tolerates heat and drought slightly better than our common beech, interesting in a warming climate.
• The beechnuts feed birds and small mammals.
• Gives deep, cool shade in summer.

Oriental beech: where does it grow best?

• Sun to partial shade; young trees appreciate a little shelter.
• Free-draining soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky; neither too wet nor compacted.
• Normally moist; avoid soil that is wet for long periods or compacted.
• Give it a great deal of space: at least 10–12 m from buildings, pipes and paving.
• It dislikes root damage: avoid digging or compacting around the tree.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

25 m tall, 18 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

• Bluebell: Flowers in April–May beneath beeches, before the tree is in full leaf.
• Wood anemone: A classic under beech: flowers in early spring before the leaves open.
• Holly: Evergreen native shrub that tolerates shade well and gives berries for birds.
• Male fern: Robust fern that thrives in deep shade and humus-rich soil.

Oriental beech: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and October–December.

1. Plant in March–April or from October to December, when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Loosen the sides so the roots can spread easily.
3. Set the tree at the same depth as it stood in its pot or root ball: the root collar stays at soil level.
4. Fit a tree stake and tie the trunk loosely with a tree tie. Keep 10–12 m away from buildings and other large trees.
5. Water in generously straight away, even if it is raining, so the soil settles firmly around the roots.
6. Spread a 5–8 cm layer of leaf mould or wood chips around the tree, keeping it clear of the trunk.

Care

Water

In the first three years, water generously every week in dry spells. A mature tree usually manages on its own.

Feeding

Usually not needed. On poor soil, spread a little compost under the crown in spring.

Mulching

A layer of leaf mould or wood chips keeps the soil moist and suppresses weeds.

Support

Keep the stake for the first 2–3 years and check the tie so it does not cut into the bark.

Soil

Do not walk or drive over the root zone, and leave fallen leaves in place as natural mulch.

Tip: Give it the space it needs from the start: a beech tolerates being moved or heavily pruned poorly. Choose a spot with loose, free-draining soil.

Oriental beech: when to prune it?

Pruning months: August.

When: Rarely needed. If necessary, in August, when the tree is in full leaf.

How:

• Remove dead, broken and crossing branches.
• Raise the crown gradually by cutting back low side branches if you want to walk underneath.
• Remove several small branches rather than one thick one.
• Leave work on large branches to a tree surgeon.

Caution: Beeches heal large pruning wounds poorly: do not cut off thick branches and never top the tree.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Sow the beechnuts outdoors in autumn, in a tray or in open ground, protected from mice. They need cold to germinate and grow slowly at first.

Grafting

Selections are grafted onto a rootstock by the nursery. This is not easy at home.

Oriental beech: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

• Fully hardy, down to about −25 °C: no protection needed in Belgium.
• Leave the fallen leaves: they rot slowly but make good leaf mould.
• On young trees, check after a storm that the stake and tie are still secure.

Diseases and pests

• Drought stress: Dull or early-yellowing leaves, bare branches in the crown or early leaf fall after hot summers. Water young trees generously in dry spells and mulch.
• Beech scale and bark disease: White woolly coating on the bark; cankers and dying branches may follow. Keep the tree vigorous; in a severe attack, consult a tree surgeon.
• Aphids and honeydew: Sticky leaves and black sooty mould in summer. Usually harmless; ladybirds and hoverflies often clear them.
• Beech leaf-mining weevil: Small brown, chewed leaves in May–June. Usually just a cosmetic problem; the tree recovers.

Through the year

• March: Plant. Check the stake.
• April: Flowering and leaf-out. Plant; water young trees in dry weather.
• May: Flowering. Water young trees in dry weather.
• June: Water young trees in dry weather.
• July: Water young trees in dry weather.
• August: If needed, remove dead branches.
• September: Beechnuts fall; sow them if you wish.
• October: Golden yellow autumn colour. Plant.
• November: Plant. Leave the leaves as mulch.
• December: Plant in frost-free weather.

Edible and useful

Leaves (April–May)

The young, silky, pale green leaves just after they unfold, in late April and early May. They taste fresh and slightly sour, raw in a salad or in a liqueur. After a week or two they turn tough.

Nuts (September–October)

Beechnuts fall in September and October, especially in ‘mast years’ when beech fruits heavily. Toast them briefly in a dry pan and eat them in moderation, over a salad or as a snack.

Storing

Dry unshelled nuts and keep them dry. Shelled and toasted, they keep for a few weeks in a closed jar; they soon go rancid.

Caution: Do not eat raw beechnuts in large amounts: they contain substances that cause stomach upset. Toasting helps, but stick to a handful. Many nuts are empty; throw away hollow husks. Pick well away from busy roads and sprayed fields, and never eat anything you have not identified with certainty.

Eating and using is at your own risk: see the terms of use.

Recipes

• Beech-leaf liqueur (Liqueur · ± 0.8 litre · 20 min + 2 weeks steeping)
• Toasted beechnuts (Dish · 1 handful, as a topping · 20 min)
• Beech leaf pesto (Dish · ± 1 jar of 200 ml · 15 min)
• Beechnut brittle (Other · ± 250 g · 40 min + 1 hr setting)

Good for wildlife

Birds

Berries, seeds or insects as food, or a place to nest.

Did you know?

• In the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Oriental beech is one of the main tree species.
• The leaves of the Oriental beech have more side veins than those of our common beech; that is a good way to tell them apart.
• Beeches do not bear the same number of nuts every year: in a so-called mast year there are suddenly very many.