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Fagus sylvatica Rolf Marquardt - Beech

Fagus sylvatica Rolf Marquardt
European beech, Common beech

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Amazing variety of beech with a dwarf habit, an elegant silhouette, and dense foliage marbled with different shades of green and cream white. With very slow growth, it responds well to pruning, allowing it to be shaped into a ball or a cone. With ever-changing foliage, initially green in spring, then variegated with white in summer, turning yellow-brown in autumn and persisting throughout winter, it provides a spectacle throughout the seasons. Its small size does not exceed 2 to 3 metres, and its preference for lightly shaded spaces makes this plant ideal for bringing light to small gardens or adding decoration to a terrace, balcony, or patio, once planted in a pot.
Height at maturity
3 m
Spread at maturity
2 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -29°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time February, November
Recommended planting time January to March, October to December
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Flowering time April to May
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Description

Fagus sylvatica Rolf Marquardt forms a bush or a small tree that can reach 1.5 to 2 m in height after 15 to 20 years. With very slow growth, it stands out for its elegant silhouette and beautiful coloured foliage, speckled with green and white. It is also loved for its dense marcescent brown foliage that remains attached to the branches throughout winter. Its long lifespan deserves a prime location in the garden. Sheltered from the sun, this beech tree brightens up shady areas with its luminous foliage. It prefers rich and well-drained soils but does not tolerate the intense rays of the sun. Discreet yellowish-green flowers appear in spring and are followed in autumn by decorative fruits called beech nuts. It is a rarity and a must-have for fans of variegated plants!

Fagus sylvatica, commonly known as beech, is a species of deciduous trees native to Europe and belongs to the family Fagaceae, like oak and chestnut trees. It is one of the main forest species in deciduous temperate forests in Europe. It is found in pure beech forests and, more often, with other species in leafy forests, mainly with the European oak or in mixed forests with the silver fir or common spruce. It is an indication of a humid temperate climate. Foresters use it to produce timber for furniture and, in mountainous areas, for firewood.

The Rolf Marquardt’ variety, whose origin is quite unknown, is said to have been found in Germany and is believed to be a seedling of Fagus sylvatica 'Marmorata'. With a long lifespan, it takes the form of a dense and branching, upright shrub. With very slow growth, it can reach a height of 2 to 3 m and a spread of 1 to 2 m at the age of 20 to 30 years. The young branches are reddish and the bark is smooth and greyish. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, ovate, 4 to 8 cm long, wavy on the leaf margin, marbled with different shades of green and cream white, more or less pronounced depending on the age of the leaves and their exposure. In autumn, the foliage takes on yellowish-brown hues and remains attached to the tree in winter until the new leaves appear. In spring, around April-May, the flowering is discreet and quite insignificant. The male flowers, grouped in pendulous catkins of 40 to 60 mm, are pale yellow, while the green female flowers are grouped in 2 to 4 at the end of the branches. In autumn, the beech nuts begin to appear in the form of prickly woody husks.

The variegated white beech is a very robust and cold-resistant tree (down to -30C°). Its elegant silhouette and coloured foliage are major assets that make this variety a unique element in the landscape. It can adapt to small gardens, terraces, and patios, and will thrive in well-drained soil, rich in humus, slightly acidic to alkaline. A partially shaded exposure is preferable, but it can also tolerate a slightly more shaded area. However, be careful of stagnant water and excessive heat, as they could be harmful to it. Its incredible hardiness makes it one of the best substitutes for Japanese maple during very harsh winters. Paired with other varieties of shrubs with varied foliage, it will bring refinement and elegance to your garden.

Fagus sylvatica Rolf Marquardt - Beech in pictures

Fagus sylvatica Rolf Marquardt - Beech (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 3 m
Spread at maturity 2 m
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate very slow

Flowering

Flower colour insignificant
Flowering time April to May

Foliage

Foliage persistence Marcescent
Foliage colour medium green

Botanical data

Genus

Fagus

Species

sylvatica

Cultivar

Rolf Marquardt

Family

Fagaceae

Other common names

European beech, Common beech

Origin

Central Europe

Product reference19342

Planting and care

Plant your Fagus sylvatica Rolf Marquardt in autumn or spring, choose an open location, in non-scorching sun, where the soil is deep and keep in mind the space it will take up in the long run. If necessary, create a drainage pit with stones if your soil is suffocating. If your soil is poor, add leaf compost. Maintain regular watering during the summer following planting and make sure to protect it from prolonged droughts for another year, mulching can help keep the base moist and space out watering. It is important to keep in mind that this tree needs consistently moist soil, at least at depth. It is perfectly frost-resistant. Prune in February-March, when the tree is dormant, approximately every 3 years to balance the habit of the tree by aerating the centre of the canopy. Beware of aphids and scale insects as well as mildew.

Fagus sylvatica Rolf Marquardt can be planted in an outdoor container. Choose a container of at least 30 to 50L. Make sure the container has drainage holes and create good drainage by filling the bottom with a thick layer of clay pebbles or gravel. In pots, they will naturally require more regular watering. In winter, move them to a sheltered place away from the wind and significantly reduce watering.

In pots, nutrient reserves diminish quickly. In spring, every year, to maintain healthy foliage, apply once, one to three handfuls of organic fertiliser (decomposed manure, compost, horn, blood, and specific fertilisers). Then, at least every two years, top-dress, which involves replacing the topsoil with fresh soil.

Planting period

Best planting time February, November
Recommended planting time January to March, October to December

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Back of border, Free-standing, Container, Hedge
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Clayey-chalky (heavy and alkaline), Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, fertile and well-drained

Care

Pruning instructions Pruning is only necessary if the tree becomes too large for the space it has been allocated. It involves balancing the tree's habit every 3 years or so by thinning the centre of the canopy and restricting crown development. Avoid severe cuts and limit pruning to small-diameter branches as much as possible. Remove dead wood and broken branches for safety at the end of spring when the leaves have emerged. Pruning of beech trees should be done from November to March, except during periods of heavy frost, bud burst, and leaf fall.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time January to March
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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