Tree · Fagaceae family
European beech
Fagus sylvatica
In short a 10-second read
European beech (tree) grows to 15–35 m tall and 10.5–30 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. Hardy to −34 °C.
× spread 10.5–30 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. Hardy to −34 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy, humus-rich, clay
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 20–50 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove dead or damaged parts (February–March).
Planting
container plant: October–April; bare-root: October–March; root-balled: October–March
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −34 °C
- Deciduous — bare in winter
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
Does European beech tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does European beech need?
At maturity 10.5–30 m wide and 15–35 m tall; recommended spacing 1050 cm.
Does European beech survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 17 October 2026.
Show sources (16)
- GBIF — Fagus sylvatica
- Okrasné škôlky (SK) — Listnaté stromy
- rastlinky.sk — blog e-shopu „Okrasné stromy do malej záhrady“
- NC State Extension
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Van den Berk Nurseries (NL) — katalóg
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (species/match)
- Wikipedia (EN)
- RHS - Fagus sylvatica
- RHS - Shrubs and trees: light pruning
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow trees
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: Slovakia, Czechia, Germany
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