Dwarf Beech

The Dwarf Beech (fagus sylvatica var. tortuosa) is an amazing tree that occurs naturally in sweden, denmark, germany and france. They grow in a very contorted, twisted fashion which gives them a mystical, almost magical allure.

Some types grow in a creeping way horizontally along the ground while others reach 4 to 5 meters in height with a typical umbrella shape and the tips of their branches touching the ground. They can grow roots where their branches touch the earth and are also able to make root suckers sometimes.

Touching branches can fuse and grow together and their way of growing turns them into individually very different and unique plants. There is also trees that grow taller with an exposed trunk and a twisted crown. 

Nobody really knows why they grow like this since it doesn't seem to offer any advantage in terms of competition. Also their existence in at least 4 different countries apparently independant of each other is mysterious. Genetic analysis has shown that they are more related to the surrounding normal beech trees than to each other.

I planted some of these trees on my land and was lucky to get given about 30 true seedlings. If you collect and sow beechnuts from dwarf beeches, about 40 percent grow into dwarf beeches again.

These trees can grow very wide and cover a huge surface. Their branches can form a dome that you can creep under and there is adult trees that create so much shade, that underneath, next to the trunk you can't read a book at noon on a summer's day.