Fagus sylvatica tortuosa. My two largest dwarf beeches are continuing to grow despite being nibbled on by deer. I need to protect them better. The shapes are unique and beautiful.
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Dwarf Beech Here are some pictures of some of my dwarf beech seedlings. In winter when the leaves have mostly fallen off their shape is much better visible. Notice the double-buds at the end of the twigs. Normal beech trees don't have double-buds but dwarf beeches sometimes do. Young dwarf beech with most of its branches growing horizontally. The tree is already wider than it is high. Twisted trunk of a small dwarf beech seedling. This plant while first growing to the left then has all its branches growing in the same direction as if attracted by some invisible force.
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 h...