Fagus sylvatica – Standards (Common Beech)

A long-lived and very handsome deciduous tree, the Common Beech is a stalwart of any British garden, park or landscape endeavour worth its salt. Standards are what you want for instant impact in a tree that can be walked under right from the day it’s planted. These standards have been cultivated just-so: with a sturdy trunky-trunk rising clear-stemmed from the soil,  where a good set of radiating branches then gently arch out to create a soft crown that will mature into a beautiful rounded silhouette. They have year-round interest despite being deciduous, as Beech trees are well known for hanging on to their old leaves through winter. Remaining full of crackle and ginger until spring when the fresh foliage pops out, they add essential shape and form into any garden and in all seasons. These Standards have a strong architectural form that make them a terrific specimen tree for a formal setting, and they can be kept tightly clipped to enhance this very easily. You could combine them brilliantly with the Fagus hedging, planting them periodically among their lower siblings to make a playfully undulating silhouette with their crowns emerging from the dense wodge of hedge, like bubbles. They look great rising over hedges and against old brick walls, adding height and shape. Speak to our garden designers for ideas: they’re full of whimsy and need occupying.