Beech, common

Common beech is often seen as a feminine tree and paricularly elegant examples may earn the name 'Queen beech'. Beech woodlands are characterised by a carpet of crispy fallen leaves and nut casings on the ground.

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	Yes, it is deciduous

Average height	15-40m

Description	The leaf edges are smooth and are fringed with silky brown hairs.
Shape	Oval
Size	Up to 10cm
Colour	Dark green
Colour of leaves in autumn	Yellow to brown
Leaf bud	Copper/grey colour, torpedo or cigar shaped and up to 2cm long. The buds have a distinctive criss-cross pattern
Leaf stalk	Short stalk
Leaf arrangement	Alternate
Leaf burst usually occurs	Spring

Bark description	Characteristic smooth grey bark sometimes with slight horizontal etchings
Twig Description	The slender grey twigs have a zig zag shape

Can easily be confused with?	Hornbeam- but this teeth/serrations around the edges of the leaves Copper or purple beech- which has purpley colour leaves not green

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Native
Where is its natural range?	South east and mid-England
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	It grows best on acid soils but does well on poor, sandy, shallow and chalky soils. Dislikes wet soils.
What is its British conservation status?	Common

Is any part of the tree poisonous?	No
Human uses of tree and timber	The timber is used for fuel, furniture, piles, tool handles, kitchen utensils and sports equipment. Beech wood burns also well and is used to smoke herrings. The nuts were also important as a source of food, particularly for pigs! They are energy rich and could be used to fatten pigs up for market. In France the nuts are still sometimes roasted as a coffee substitute and they can also yield an oil which can be used in cooking or for oil lamps.
Tree lore and folklore	Remarkably there are few folklore records relating to beech. It was thought to have medicinal properties though. In the past beech leaves were recommended as a relief for swellings, and boiling the leaves could make a poultice

Fagus may be derived from the Greek phagein to eat, as in Europe beechmast was eaten in times of famine.

Beech Tree

Beech Leaves

Beech Seeds

Illustrations supplied by Collins

Celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's
historic 2012 Diamond Jubilee with us

Collins Tree Guide

Find local woods near you to explore
at visitwoods.org.uk