• Popular hedging species for fields and gardens
• Native to UK
• Holds leaves through winter in hedge form
• Can be easily maintained at 3-4m as a hedge
 
Description 
Beech is one of the UK's most popular garden hedging plants. Although not evergreen, it does hold its leaves through winter and provides an attractive border.  Its wavy margined leaves, pale green at first, turn glossy dark green, then yellow to orange-brown in autumn. Provides a year-round habitat for birds.

When grown in tree form, it makes an imposing, vigorous deciduous tree with a broad crown, native to southern England and South Wales. Mature trees can grow to over 40m in height, they can live for hundreds of years, and when coppiced, can live for thousands of years.
 
Planting Position 
Green/Common Beech thrives well in well-drained chalky, and acids soils. Can handle exposed areas.
 
Size 
Growth Rate: Fast 
Final Height: 25-30m 
Final Spread: Excess of 8m
 
Foliage & Flowers 
Leaves are oval and fringed with silky brown hairs. The female flowers grow in pairs and are surrounded by a cup. The male catkins hang from long stalks at the end of twigs in April/May. When wind pollinated, the cup becomes woody and inside grow 1 or 2 nuts called beechmast.
 
Plant Interest 
Green/Common Beech is attractive to wildlife, with the leaves providing forage for various species of caterpillars. The seeds are eaten by birds, squirrels, mice and voles. They also provide homes for wood boring insects and hole nesting birds.