The tree is toxic to humans, and toxic to pets. Tricolor beech trees are among the most popular trees in public parks and gardens across North America and Europe. One of the oldest and largest public parks featuring tricolor beech trees is in Brookline, Massachusetts, near Boston. The beech trees at the Longwood Mall were planted prior to the Civil War, making them the oldest stand of this type of beech tree in the country.
Light
Most beech trees grow in forests and prefer partial to total shade. Full sunlight may burn their leaves or stunt their growth. Tricolor beech is best suited as an understory tree and part shade conditions.
Soil
This tree prefers well-drained, moist, and slightly acidic soil of a pH between 5.0 and 6.5 though it is quite tolerant of neutral soil. It does not do well in waterlogged soils. Although considered less fussy than other beeches, tricolor often reacts badly to urban conditions or salty soils.
Water
Since beech trees grow slowly, water regularly for the first two years to establish the root system. Keep in mind that tricolor beech is intolerant of salt in soil or water. Do not plant it near sidewalks, streets, or driveways where de-icing salts are used. This tree reacts badly to wide fluctuations in soil moisture, so make sure to water during dry spells. It also best to mulch around the base of the tree to keep it moist, but not mulch directly up to the base. Use the space around the base of the tree that is free from mulch to plant ground covers or other plantings since the prominent surface roots make it hard to mow grass.
Temperature and Humidity
Beech trees can tolerate cold climates during the winter, but the trees are sensitive to spring frost. It prefers cooler climates with an average high temperature that doesn’t exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The leaves of tricolor beech are prone to scorching if they are not sheltered from the hot sun or dry winds. This is a tree that requires some shade, especially in warmer climates.
Fertilizer
Feed your tricolor beech once a year before the appearance of new growth in spring, typically around March. Spread a general granular fertilizer (such as Tree-Tone) over the area under the canopy, then water well.
Types of European Beech
There are several other popular varieties of European beech to consider:
Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’: One of the oldest and most popular is the copper or purple beech, which has purple leaves that turn a dark shade of green in late spring and early summer.Fagus sylvatica ‘Tortuosa’: This dwarf beech tree is easily recognizable by its twisting trunk and gnarled branches.Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’: A weeping beech, it looks similar to the weeping willow.Fagus sylvatica ‘Zlatia’: This golden beech has leaves that turn gold in late spring.
Pruning
Routine pruning includes removing any suckers that sprout up and removing broken or dead branches as they appear. Where branches rub together, remove one of them to prevent bark injury where fungal diseases can take root. Pruning is best done during the late winter dormant season. Tricolor beech can be planted close and pruned to become a hedge, as it tolerates pruning well. However, do not prune until it has become established, which can take at least a couple of years.
Propagating
It’s best to plant tricolor beech as a sapling or young tree that you purchase from a nursery. Propagation from cuttings can be tricky and has a hit or miss success rate, therefore it is not recommended. Because tricolor beech is a cultivar, growing the tree from seed will not produce a tree true to type.
Overwintering
European beech trees are hardy and can withstand winter temperatures up to USDA zone 4.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Beech scale is a common insect problem. It is best treated by systemic pesticides or insecticidal soap sprays. Caterpillars may feed on the leaves, but rarely to such a degree that it harms the tree. The most common disease problem with beech trees is canker disease, a fungal disease that can cause bleeding wounds on the tree. These are most likely to appear on trees that are stressed through extremes in soil moisture. They can be prevented by taking good care of the tree, and treated with a propizol trunk injection.
Common Problems with Tricolor Beech
Beech leaf disease is a relatively new but mysterious problem for tricolor beech trees in some states and in Canada. The leaves begin to take on a dark stain, then shrivel and die, but the cause is still unknown. Tricolor beech trees can be affected by powdery mildew, which rarely affects the health of the tree, and it can be treated with fungicides.
