European Beech

== AKA- ==
no other common names. 
== Popular Cultivars ==
# Weeping Beech
# Copper Beech
# Tricolor Beech
== Description ==
One of the largest trees commonly found in CT. These monsters can reach 100-150’ tall. They have the largest trunks of any tree seen here. Leaves are not like the American. They are round and do not have teeth. Some are smooth. These leaves are deciduous, and drop late. They are the last trees to begin leaf drop in November. Leaves turn a beautiful yellow, orange, and brown. With all the colors combined it looks like a work of art. These beech trees have gray, smooth bark. The wood is very strong. Beech trees withstand even the harshest of weather. They make great shade trees for yards, parks and street trees. There are several cultivars of European Beech. Weeping beech is just like the real EB. These variety has weeping branches. These trees need to be grafted to reproduce. This explains their rarity. Copper beech has season long purple foliage. From leaf out to leaf drop, the leaves stay purple. Tricolor Beech is probly the rarest, with multiple beech varieties. Less is known on them due to their rarity.
== Bark carving ==
For some reason, carving names or letters in Beech trees have become popular. This is wrong on every level. Carving into a tree's bark is like carving out your skin. It can kill cells and disrupt the natural xylem and phloem, which help a tree deliver and spread nutrients throughout the whole tree. With this, a tree can develop health problems that can jeopardize the well being and life of a tree. It's incredibly bad for it. This has caused unimaginable amounts of tree deaths. Carving the trees bark creates a doorway for infections, disease, and invasive bugs into the core of the tree. These things can severely damage a trees form, strength and can usually be fatal in uncontrolled. A healthy beech tree has smooth bark. Many beech trees these days have furrows, ridges, and bulges, which are a distinct sign of stress. Most of these can be traced back to bark carving. DO NOT CARVE A TREE' S BARK! If an important tree, or city tree develops a disease, infection or even death, you may be liable! 
== General ==
80-130' capable of reaching 150'. Equal or fat crown.
Non Invasive-- Quite tame. 
Tardily Deciduous. Waits till November to drop leaves. 
Orange or yellow fall color. smooth grey bark. Category:Trees and Shrubs
Category:Nature