Beech tree
€6.95
Beech Tree (Fagus sylvatica) is a hardy native deciduous tree that can eventually reach 20–30 m tall, forming a strong trunk, smooth grey bark, and a broad, elegant canopy of fresh green leaves. In spring, the new leaves emerge bright and soft, maturing to rich green in summer before turning golden copper in autumn. Mature trees produce small edible nuts known as beech mast, which can be eaten in small amounts when properly prepared, though they are more commonly valued as food for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife. Beech is easy to grow where space allows, providing long-term beauty, shelter, soil-building leaf litter, wildlife habitat, and strong landscape structure in large gardens, woodland plantings, shelterbelts, hedgerows, and permaculture systems.
Beech thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers fertile, well-drained soil, performing best on neutral to lime-rich ground and disliking heavy waterlogged conditions. It is fully hardy in Ireland’s cool temperate climate and is especially valuable as a long-lived native tree for habitat creation, carbon storage, shelter, and seasonal beauty. Its dense canopy, wildlife value, copper autumn colour, and ability to form excellent hedging when clipped make it a powerful choice for regenerative landscapes and biodiversity-focused planting.
Quantity
Only 2 left in stock
Growing Instructions
Plant in full sun or partial shade in well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost or well-rotted organic matter. Choose a position with enough space for the tree to mature, or plant closer together if growing as a hedge. Water regularly during dry spells while young trees are establishing, and apply a mulch of compost, leaf mould, or woodchip each spring to retain moisture, suppress weeds, feed the soil, and protect the root zone.
Prune young trees only as needed to remove dead, damaged, crossing, or poorly placed branches, allowing a strong natural shape to develop. If growing as a hedge, trim once or twice a year to maintain the desired size and encourage dense growth, with retained copper leaves often providing winter screening. Its native wildlife value, elegant form, rich leaf litter, shelter potential, and long-lived nature make it perfect for woodland gardens, shelterbelts, native hedges, large wildlife gardens, agroforestry plantings, and permaculture systems seeking resilient, habitat-rich trees.
