Fagus sylvatica 'Verschuurfag1' MIDNIGHT FEATHER European beech
Fagus
Beech is a reliable and hardy tree of our climate. There are many wild forms, hybridized varieties, and selections on market these days that can satisfy the taste of almost everyone. It is easily distinguished by glossy, mostly broadly elliptic leaves with conspicuous venation. Beech is used both in private gardens and in green spaces in towns and cities because it does not require any maintenance once established.
MIDNIGHT FEATHER is a unique variety of European beech from the Netherlands with attractive foliage. Its deciduous leaves are deep maroon during the season and brighter burgundy red in autumn. They are glossy and conspicuously incised or notched at margins like many Japanese maple varieties. The will add elegance and delicacy to your garden and, thanks to their dark colour, they will make a great contrast if planted among green-leaved shrubs and trees.
It grows slowly to moderately into an upright, small tree with a strong central leader. Its branching is dense and present from the ground, yet you can remove lower framework in order to train in into a single clear-stemmed standard tree. The habit is relatively dense even without pruning. The variety was bred by Peter Verschuuren and European Patent No. 56853 was granted in 2021.
Beech is not fussy about the soil type – it can live in a wide range of well-drained soils, from slightly alkaline to slightly acidic, and once established it withstands drought better than most other broadleaved trees. Grow it in full sun or just a light shade for a part of the day. It can be pruned in late winter and trimmed for a hedge in midsummer. Newly planted trees with a trunk height of 1.5 m and taller need to be staked to a strong support for at least 3 years before the roots establish. Fully hardy to min. -34 °C (USDA zone 4).
Last update 17-06-2024
