Fagus crenata aka Japanese Beech

Fagus crenata, the Japanese beech, is native to Japan. It belongs to the beech family, Fagaceae. Other names include buna and Siebold's beech. It grows in forests and suits temperate climates. This deciduous tree forms a rounded crown with dense, low branches. Its stout trunk can reach 100 feet [30.5 metres]. The supplied sources give no typical garden height or spread.

The bark stays smooth and has a pale, silver-grey colour. Green, oval leaves grow alternately along the stems. Each simple leaf has teeth along its edge. A tooth marks the end of each secondary vein. Leaves turn yellow, gold, copper or brown before they fall. The tree grows slowly and takes time to mature. Its surface roots and deep shade can limit plants beneath it.

Small flowers appear in spring but draw little attention. Male flowers form catkins, and wind carries their pollen. Female flowers grow in pairs. The fruit is a small nut with three angled sides. A husk with short spines surrounds each nut. These beechnuts fall in autumn and often taste bitter. Birds and mammals eat them. People also press the nuts for oil. The wood serves as building timber and fuel.

Plant Japanese beech in fertile soil that drains well. It grows in full sun or partial shade. Young trees tolerate shade but can suffer frost damage. Shelter from winter winds helps protect them. It prefers moist ground, though it tolerates some dry spells. Sources list soils across the pH range, including chalk. Avoid heavy soil that stays wet. USDA zones 4–8 suit its stated hardiness range. It favours hot summers despite its tolerance of winter cold. Cool British summers can lead to poor, very slow growth.

This tree provides shade in lawns, parks and public grounds. Its nuts also add food for local wildlife. NC State reports no known pests or diseases for this species. Young leaves can serve as spring greens, raw or cooked. Older leaves soon grow tough. Nuts are edible in small amounts, either raw or cooked. However, raw or unripe seeds can cause an upset stomach. NC State rates this poisoning risk as low. Do not treat the nuts as safe in large amounts.