Fern Leaf Beech Project

[Cmd5235]

Just received two small Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’ (fern leaf beech) in the mail. Unfortunately, both are grafted with ugly scars and horrible nebari. But the plan is to grow these out for a few years and then start air layering. I’m starting this thread as I haven’t seen many other Asplenifolia out there.



Lower trunk area:

 

[Potawatomi13]

Plant in ground, let grow trunk large amount and believe graft problem will dissipate. Do not know but suspect these grow poorly on own roots or would not be grafted so maybe layering is not greatest idea.

 

[fredman]

I agree. Plant it in the ground. They grow rapidly. First year or two they stand while the roots gets established though.
I have had one for some 10 yrs now. After 6 yrs in a bonsai pot it grew almost nothing. I seriously contemplated at some stage to get rid of it. Love the leaves...for me the tree was to skinny and had little potential.
I eventually just planted it in the ground. Now after 4 yrs i'm highly excited about it again. It basically tripled in size all over....and has way more potential.
Here's some photos of it....before and after I dug it up.

 

[fredman]

This one is grafted also.
Here's some photos of what it looks like now...