Fagus sylvatica Ansorgei - Beech

Fagus sylvatica 'Ansorgei' is a rarely cultivated and quite unique variety of Common Beech. Its fine and narrow, jagged foliage, reminiscent of willow leaves, is purple in spring and early summer and turns purplish-brownish-green in late summer and autumn. It hangs on elegant arching branches. It has a very slow growth and eventually forms a distinctive small tree. It thrives in humid temperate climates and prefers deep and moist, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soils.

The beech tree, known as Fagus sylvatica in Latin, is an imposing tree with a spreading habit. Its cylindrical trunk is covered with smooth, light grey bark. This tree can live for several centuries. Native to central Europe to the Caucasus, it is one of the most common tree species in European forests. Its reddish wood is used in cabinetmaking and for making wooden tools and toys, as well as for firewood. It is very hardy and can reach a height of 20m at maturity.

The 'Ansorgei' cultivar is a German selection dating back to the 1880s. With a very slow growth, it eventually forms a small tree with a rather loose habit and pendulous branches, but not truly weeping, reaching 4m in height and 6m in width. It will only reach this size after several decades, as it barely reaches 1.50m after 10 years of cultivation. Its foliage consists of alternate, very narrow and lanceolate, jagged leaves. They appear in spring. They are purple when they burst, turn purplish-green in late summer, and then coppery-orange in autumn. They are marcescent, meaning they dry out while remaining on the tree until the arrival of new leaves in spring. The insignificant, cream flowers appear almost at the same time as the leaves, from April to May. The male flowers, separate from the female flowers, are grouped in pendulous catkins measuring 40 to 60mm. The female flowers are grouped in 2 to 4 at the end of the branches. Mature trees produce shiny brown beech nuts covered in bristly prickles. These 12 to 18mm long fruits are edible in small quantities. Mountain dwellers used to use them to make flour.

Fagus sylvatica 'Ansorgei' is a compact, very hardy tree that requires no maintenance when grown in suitable conditions. It prefers cool and temperate, or mountainous climates. Planted as a specimen tree, this beech tree is very beautiful if one has the patience to watch it grow. Placed along a path, a stream, or a pond, its branches gracefully hang down and showcase its beautiful foliage. Its size makes it perfectly suited for small gardens.