PlantFiles: Tri-colored European Beech
Fagus sylvatica 'Roseomarginata'

I saw this tree at a local nursery & had to wait as it is EXPENSIVE! However, when I finally managed to purchase one (they get only like 3 a year), I purchased a tiny little whip about 5' tall and thin as a rail.. well, more like thin as a bamboo rod that it was attached to for support. I was petrified that it was not going to come back after the winter we had (we had about about a foot of snow on it and it bent in half), and then this spring (Spring 08) we had days where it went from literally 80 degrees to snow the next day (VERY VERY wild spring).

This thing not only came back, but grew about 6" and is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen! The leaves all unfurled to a rosy magenta color that's MUCH brighter than last year and it's trying to stand up on it's own (it has such a thin trunk). I water it every 3rd day for about 3 minutes as it's way too small to put a treegator on and it seems to be happy. I replaced all of the mulch around it and it just glows in my yard! It stands now almost 6' tall and is about as thick at the base as a hotdog. My soil is extremely poor, with the first 6" a base "topsoil", then you have about 6" of sand, then pure clay and it seems to do wonderful! It has a north face with protection from noon to sunset from the hot sun here in Colorado. If it doesn't get that protection from the sun, it will burn and the leaves will curl & crisp up and lose the red color. I will try & take pictures soon. I feed it basic MiracleGro about once a month and water every 3 days unless it rains.

We have been in this home (Bloomington, IN) for only 6 months and have this tree in our back yard. The tree is only about 6-7 feet tall, still slim. The leaves are very unusual, with a bright pink border and green/bronze interior. Some of its leaves already show signs of scorching (it is now the first week of June). It is in partial shade during the afternoon.

In the fall, we want to transplant it, as it was planted too close to the house. I read that beeches do not like transplanting and the best time to do this is when the tree is still small. Since this tree is unusual, I want it to be a focal point of the yard, and it will be in full sun. Do you think that this will lead to more scorching?

This is a great specimen plant for a small yard as it grows so slowly. The emerging leaves are astoundingly beautiful. It can suffer from transplant shock and needs regular water for the first and second summer, and the leaf color varies depending on sun or shade exposure. It has done well for me in the Pacific Northwest z8, and I would highly recomend it for someone looking for the uncommon specimen, although when your nieghbors see it they will want one too!

We purchased this tree last year, and it was beautiful. However, THIS year it is pitiful. The color is very dull and undescribable, no pink unless you look close, and then there is only a small margin around the dark, burgundy/green leaves.
We live in south western Ohio, and I have noticed that most all of the Tri-color beech trees in our area are discolored this year....some worse than others. Has anyone had a similar experience? And would anyone out there know why all these trees are so drab and ugly this year?

I purchased this tree 6 years ago the moment I spotted it. It has been outstanding in my yard, with it's vibrant color and and wispy growth. I use it as a specimen tree amidst the flowers of my English Cottage Garden. It caused so many people to stop by and ask what type it was and where I purchased it. As a result, I have seen many pop up in the neighborhood. I am now ready to trim it back as some of the inner growth on the branches has died back, and the branches have become lengthy. I am so afraid of misshaping the tree that I keep putting it off. Anyone, when do I trim this ?

I have planted 3 of these trees in a trigonal pattern with enough space for a future gazeebo. The planter of the trees informed me that the tree in general had a small root ball and required a regular watering schedule for the first year and possibly the second. I was also informed that the leaves would be scorched the first year by the end of summer, but not to worry they would be fine the second year. The trees were approximately 8 to 10 feet specimens and the leaves came out a hot pink mauve color which slowly developed into the three color pattern. They will also tolerate partial shade. They are extremely slow growing.

While reading a copy of The English Gardener, I came across a garden plan that had this tree in it. They call it a Beech Pillar. It says the leaves stay on all winter. They trim the branches drastically to short stubs. It says a tight drum of leaves will form around the trunk and you keep it trim to about 26 inches in diameter. As a tree I think this is beautiful, as a piller I just think it would be breath-taking. Now I hope I can find a few in the spring. Please let us know how yours survived over the winter.

The first time I saw a photo of this tree I wanted one, even though it is a slow grower. I planted it in early July and watered it deeply everyday for a bout 10 minutes for the first 2 weeks. It is now mid Sept. and the tree looks just like the day I planted it, the leaves are very beautiful. I hope it lives through the winter. RIght now it is about 5.5 feet tall. I will post again in the spring.

I planted a seven-foot tri-color European Beech Tree in late spring. It immediately went into shock and eventually lost all its leaves. I have been keeping it watered, hoping it will survive because it still appears to have greenish buds at the ends of the stems.

The leaves of this tree are absolutely beautiful (mottled pink, green and white) and are very delicate (almost succulent) thick, soft and fuzzy. It is quite different from any tree I have ever planted and I'm hoping this accounts for the disturbing behavior of the leaves.