Fagus sylvatica Rohan Gold - Beech

Fagus sylvatica 'Rohan Gold' is a variety of Common Beech with wavy leaves, slightly more toothed than most other varieties and with a bright golden yellow colour that quickly turns light green. This prevents the leaves from burning under the summer sun. The habit is initially strongly upright and rounds out with age. In autumn, the leaves turn a golden yellow. This variety is sensitive to drought and heat and tolerates shade well. It is particularly interesting as a standalone tree.

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

The cultivar 'Rohan Gold', probably resulting from the cross-breeding between the cultivar 'Rohanii' and the cultivar 'Zlatia', was introduced in 1973 at the Trompenburg Arboretum in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It has an initially columnar and upright habit before rounding out with a dense crown. It reaches a height of 14 to 16m at maturity. Its leaves are initially a bright yellow. They then quickly turn light green. This change in colour allows this tree to protect itself from sunlight. Its leaves are ovoid and oblong, moderately to deeply lobed, and their lobes are orbicular. From April to May, barely visible, monoecious, cream flowers appear. The male flowers are grouped in catkins of 40 to 60mm. The female flowers are grouped in 2 to 4 at the end of the branches. Mature specimens produce fruits called beech nuts, which are shiny brown and 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 'Rohan Gold' is a very hardy, low-maintenance tree. It prefers partial shade and cool, temperate climates. The soil should be moist and well-drained and always have a constant level of humidity, as it does not tolerate drought. Planted as a standalone tree, it will have an elegant and neat presence and provide valuable shade in summer with its dense foliage. Thanks to its moderate size, it is suitable for medium-sized gardens.