Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck’

This remarkable cultivar of our native beech boasts a distinctively slender form, originally spotted within the woodlands of the Dawyck estate in Peebleshire, Scotland. Recognising its unique beauty, the estates proprietors relocated this singular tree closer to the residence for enhanced enjoyment. Subsequently, Fredrick Balfour acquired the estate, and, being an avid arborist, he admired the trees exceptional form. He propagated cuttings from its youthful growth, disseminating these scions to prestigious gardens like Kew and Hermann A. Hesse tree nursery. It was at Hesse’s nursery that the Dawyck variant was first propagated and commercially introduced in 1912.

With a towering compact pyramidal canopy that can ascend beyond 20m, this tree commands attention while maintaining a restrained width, rarely ever exceeding 3m. This unique profile offers versatile applications, from shading narrow medians, to crafting captivating landscape compositions. The tree’s bark gleams with a silvery steel hue, presenting a smooth and flawless surface. This distinctive bark extends along its robust branches, contributing to its majestic and regal canopy appearance.

As spring arrives, the trees elongated buds open to green leaves that evolve into a vibrant lime hue. These feature pronounced veins and densely populate the canopy, creating a visually stunning display. As summer transitions into autumn, the foliage matures into rich browns and yellows, eventually drying to brown crinkled leaves that persist throughout winter.