EUROPEAN BEECH (red cultivar)

[MACH5]

Any tips on how to develop te ramification? I had to cut a beech back to stubs this winter as all the branches were just getting really lanky

@leatherback beech are indeed challenging to ramify well. They are apically very dominant which also includes the branch terminals. Although there may be nuances in how you approach different species of beech, I am guessing that all behave similarly. On Japanese beech, I pinch the center of strong to medium strength buds as they swell and extend in the spring. Yes, this means opening up the still incipient buds and very carefully pinching the center back to one or two buds depending on their strength. You will need to do this perhaps a couple a times a day as the buds open at different rates. This will go on for a week or more as buds open up. Getting shoots that early ensures the energy gets redistributed back to the smaller weaker buds in a timely manner. All weak branches I leave to grow until leaves harden at which point I cut back to two or more shoots. Except for the strongest branches, I usually will prune back to two buds (or more) and not just one as it is risky. Again this depends on the strength of the branch in question.

Also when the tree is dormant, I cut off all the tips of each branch in preparation for the spring flush. Again, the only exception is the weaker branches which I leave alone. I am pretty aggressive in how I manage back the strong areas of my beech trees.

 

[MACH5]

I like it! The only niggle that I have (and it's probably from a 2d photo) is the U shaped almost antler like top two apex branches. But she's looking good.

Thanks Judy. Glad you like it. It does read differently in person. Regardless, I remade slightly the upper portions of the tree so they are somewhat "raw" at the moment. Things will be sorted out as it settles and matures.

 

[K_10_G]

@MACH5 is this Fagus sylvatica var. purpurea ?

@JudyB in the old thread it looks like at some point you switched from a kanuma mix to akadam based soil, any reason for the change ? Does the European beech prefer a different soil to American beech in you experience ?

 

[leatherback]

Also when the tree is dormant, I cut off all the tips of each branch in preparation for the spring flush.

I think this might be the trick. The spring trimming of buds I -try to- do as well, work hours permitting (Which usually ends up being a quick lookover before work, and a beer-at-hand workover in the evening.

Thx!

 

[JudyB]

@MACH5 is this Fagus sylvatica var. purpurea ?

@JudyB in the old thread it looks like at some point you switched from a kanuma mix to akadam based soil, any reason for the change ? Does the European beech prefer a different soil to American beech in you experience ?

I think you are just visually seeing the top level of the soil, I planted in all Kanuma, but topped the soil with a thin layer of akadama so as to accentuate the whiteness of the trunk.
@MACH5 I'm sure you'll sort it all out lol... I am happy to see her in your hands. Wait till those buds start unfurling!

 

[MACH5]

@MACH5 is this Fagus sylvatica var. purpurea ?

I don't believe it is. However, it's history indicates that is some variant of F. Sylvatica as a former owner said that for him the leaves stayed with a red tinge throughout the growing season. The bark is also a lot brighter than what I have seen in the species.

 

[MACH5]

I think this might be the trick. The spring trimming of buds I -try to- do as well, work hours permitting (Which usually ends up being a quick lookover before work, and a beer-at-hand workover in the evening.

Thx!

I hope to put a detailed account of my observations with beech at some point with lots of photos. This species can give you a run for your money!

 

[MACH5]

In the process now of leafing out. One of the very last in my garden. Gorgeous red leaf cultivar! I am almost certain now that it's a copper beech (fagus sylvatica purpurea). Just beautiful and something you don't see often as bonsai.

 

[KiwiPlantGuy]

In the process now of leafing out. One of the very last in my garden. Gorgeous red leaf cultivar! I am almost certain now that it's a copper beech (fagus sylvatica purpurea). Just beautiful and something you don't see often as bonsai.

View attachment 242435

View attachment 242436

View attachment 242437

View attachment 242439

Hi Mach5,
Love the tree and it’s colour. I see a lot of variations here in the “purpurea” seed lines (seedlings).
As for ramification, I have read somewhere that if you prune the terminal of each branch in the Fall, with still 30plus days until first frost, you develop all the “dormant?” buds behind the terminal, and then most of those
buds open in the spring. This method seems quite effective from my minuscule 2 years observations of mine in pots.
There is some other defoliation technique keeping the last leaf on each branch.
Also, interestingly, pinching to the 2 leaves as leaves unfurl gave me 3 spurts of growth on another beech.
Just my thinking/observations and not trying to hijack your thread.
Was wondering what you think about these different techniques?
Photo of my wee beech 3-4 years old.

Charles

 

[Meh]

Hi Mach5,
Love the tree and it’s colour. I see a lot of variations here in the “purpurea” seed lines (seedlings).
As for ramification, I have read somewhere that if you prune the terminal of each branch in the Fall, with still 30plus days until first frost, you develop all the “dormant?” buds behind the terminal, and then most of those
buds open in the spring. This method seems quite effective from my minuscule 2 years observations of mine in pots.
There is some other defoliation technique keeping the last leaf on each branch.
Also, interestingly, pinching to the 2 leaves as leaves unfurl gave me 3 spurts of growth on another beech.
Just my thinking/observations and not trying to hijack your thread.
Was wondering what you think about these different techniques?
Photo of my wee beech 3-4 years old.
View attachment 242476
Charles

I have read about most techniques you reference except the pruning of the terminal bud in fall--could you please elaborate a bit more on that technique?

 

[JudyB]

She's so beautiful in the spring. I miss this one, so am very happy to see the spring foliage shots!

 

[MACH5]

Hi Mach5,
Love the tree and it’s colour. I see a lot of variations here in the “purpurea” seed lines (seedlings).
As for ramification, I have read somewhere that if you prune the terminal of each branch in the Fall, with still 30plus days until first frost, you develop all the “dormant?” buds behind the terminal, and then most of those
buds open in the spring. This method seems quite effective from my minuscule 2 years observations of mine in pots.
There is some other defoliation technique keeping the last leaf on each branch.
Also, interestingly, pinching to the 2 leaves as leaves unfurl gave me 3 spurts of growth on another beech.
Just my thinking/observations and not trying to hijack your thread.
Was wondering what you think about these different techniques?
Photo of my wee beech 3-4 years old.
View attachment 242476
Charles

Hi Charles. Thank you for sharing this info and good to hear some of your experiences. I am familiar with the techniques you mentioned although have not tried them all yet. I have next to zero hands on experience with sylvatica while a few years already under my belt with crenata. I believe both cannot be approached quite in the same way. Sylvatica seems a lot more robust than crenata.

The technique of cutting off all leaves except the terminal ones is from Harry Harrington. Not sure where he learned that from? This is interesting but seems that it may be quite hard on crenata species and may lead to lots of dieback. Unsure but just a guess from my observations. I have one crenata that I am keeping just to experiment on. So I will give it a try and see.

I am familiar with removing the terminal buds. This is one technique I use in late winter (not fall) which seems to be effective as all beech are apically and distally very dominant. I am going to try this year to do it in the fall and compare.

Also I do pinch in the spring as buds extend and leaves barely out of their sheath to manage strength and avoid overly strong areas from thickening too much.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I have read about most techniques you reference except the pruning of the terminal bud in fall--could you please elaborate a bit more on that technique?

https://nebaribonsai.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/fall-defoliation-of-a-japanese-beech/

 

[MACH5]

She's so beautiful in the spring. I miss this one, so am very happy to see the spring foliage shots!

Hi Judy. Yes she does add variety to my garden. I was struck by how red the leaves are although I had an idea already from your previous postings of this tree. Right in the apex the leaves are a bright solid red. I have no doubt that this is not a straight up sylvatica. Definitely a cultivar and most likely is a copper beech.

 

[Meh]

https://nebaribonsai.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/fall-defoliation-of-a-japanese-beech/

Thank you Brian, I have read all about your beech and found it very helpful, though I have not attempted the fall defoliation yet. I was trying to discern if Charles is essentially performing a less extreme version, and what the reason for the fall timing is vs spring, which is what I have seen others recommend (when not defoliating). @KiwiPlantGuy do you also defoliate along with removing terminal buds?

 

[Meh]

This tree is absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.

 

[JudyB]

The spring leaf color does vary a bit from year to year. Looking really red this year! I do know for sure that this came as a seedling from Bill V. in 2004ish. It's a European Red Beech for sure.

 

[MACH5]

The spring leaf color does vary a bit from year to year. Looking really red this year! I do know for sure that this came as a seedling from Bill V. in 2004ish. It's a European Red Beech for sure.

Good to know about the color. Yes I don't quite remember it being this red when you posted it although beautiful nonetheless. I still had slight doubts as I have seen other beech with red tinged leaves as they come out. But looking at them now leaves no doubt it's a red cultivar.

 

[BobbyLane]

Looking great Mach. looks like copper beech, fagus sylvatica purpurea. sometimes the intensity of the copper can vary a little and appear more red...or more purple

this is mine, mine tends to stay more coppery
IMG_4217 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
IMG_4220 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

agreed, the colour does indeed vary from year to year

 

[MACH5]

Looking great Mach. looks like copper beech, fagus sylvatica purpurea. sometimes the intensity of the copper can vary a little and appear more red...or more purple

this is mine, mine tends to stay more coppery
IMG_4217 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
IMG_4220 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

agreed, the colour does indeed vary from year to year

Thanks Bobby. Beautiful!