Fagus sylvatica seedlings.

[Damian Bee]

I have a dozen, does anyone grow them from seed? If so, is fattening up a similar process to that of maples? I would hate to kill 11/12 before I got it right but on the flip side, what a story #12 would have behind it

[craigw60]

Damian, beech are a little different from maples in that back budding is not a certainty, they do back bud but not as easily as maples. I have 6 mature trees in my garden but they rarely set viable seeds so I don't have much experience of seed raising then.
Are you going to make a group planting with them ?
Craigw

[Damian Bee]

Hello Craig,

I am not sure what to do just yet but I do like your thinking. One thing that I have done is pot them on at angles in the pot so as to get a start on something.They are all of 18 months old and not much bigger than a 5mm twig at present. Something of interest will be the variety if any in the foliage and growth habit.

[craigw60]

Planting on an angle is a really good move especially for a group setting. I would be surprised if you get any variation in leaf structure, I get the odd seedling popping up around the garden and the only variation is in the leaf colour because some of them are coppers and tricolors , there is never any different leaf shapes.
Craigw