Fagus sylvatica
Fagus sylvatica
FamilyGenus: Fagusnative in Germany
🌿
48
Species
interact
🔗
48
Interactions
documented
🐛
42
Host relationships
Species
About this species
A native deciduous broadleaf tree reaching over 30 m in height. It forms extensive woodlands on fresh, neutral to slightly acid soils, thriving in shade and flowering in spring.
Ecological network
Click to highlight connections · Click again to open the species page
Loading network...
PollinationLarval host
Ecological significance
In Great Britain, Fagus sylvatica is native and forms a key component of beech woods and mixed deciduous forests, particularly on limestone. Its dense canopy shapes the understorey light environment.
Annual cycle
Deciduous, with new leaves in spring. Flowers April–May. Foliage turns colour in autumn before leaf fall; tree is bare through winter.
Standort & Merkmale
Light
Schatten
Moisture
Frisch (Mäßig feucht)
Soil
Mittelzehrer (Normaler Boden)
Flowering period
Apr – Mai
Soil reaction
Mäßig sauer bis neutral
Bioregion
Continental
Growth form
Baum
Woodiness
Verholzt
Leaf type
Breitblättrig
Leaf phenology
Laubabwerfend
Plant height
31.477 m
Morphological traits: TRY ID3 (CC BY 3.0) & TRY ID81 (CC BY)
Pflege & Anbau
Prefers a shady position with fresh, moderately moist soil of neutral to slightly acid reaction. Suitable for normal garden soils with moderate fertility.
Scientific profile
Fagus sylvatica is a large deciduous tree with a typical height of around 31.5 m. It bears broad leaves and is the dominant species in beech and mixed deciduous forests on calcareous substrates. Its native range includes Great Britain, where it occurs in native woodlands. The tree flowers from April to May and produces heavy diaspores averaging 187 mg. It favours shady conditions and fresh, moderately moist soils of moderate nutrient status. The species has a low severity disturbance indicator value, reflecting its association with stable forest habitats.
Pollinators & visitors
6 Arten interagieren mit dieser Pflanze
Host relationships
42 species use this plant as a host
Zeuzera pyrinaApoda limacodesWatsonalla cultrariaOperophtera brumataEupithecia irriguataPlagodis dolabrariaAngerona prunariaEnnomos quercinariaEnnomos erosariaOurapteryx sambucariaAgriopis aurantiariaDeileptenia ribeataCampaea margaritariaGeometra papilionariaStauropus fagiEuproctis similisCalliteara pudibundaOrgyia recensHerminia tarsipennalisTrisateles emortualis (Denis & Schiffermüller), 1775Colocasia coryliAsteroscopus sphinxTiliacea auragoAgrochola macilentaBena bicoloranaCyclophora lineariaCrocallis elinguariaPhalera bucephalaEupsilia transversaOrthosia cerasiAgriopis marginariaPtilodon capucinaNola confusalisErannis defoliariaFurcula furculaOperophtera fagataParadarisa consonariaBiston betulariaPseudoips prasinanaLycia hirtariaLymantria monachaAcronicta alni
Sources & data origin
•Cook et al. (2025) UK Butterfly & Moth Traits (DOI: 10.5285/dbc7cc17-cbbd-49dd-bab4-8e8855768d66)
•pollinator_interactions
•FloraWeb / BfN
•EIVE 1.0 — Dengler et al. (2023), DOI: 10.3897/VCS.98324 (CC BY 4.0)
•GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — GBIF Secretariat (2024), DOI: 10.15468/39omei (CC BY 4.0)
•TRY Categorical Traits (ID3) — Kattge et al. (2012), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.3 (CC BY 3.0)
•TRY Global Spectrum (ID81) — Díaz et al. (2016/2021), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.81 (CC BY)
•Govaerts R et al. (2025) — World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) v14. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. DOI: 10.34885/xs7h-ze42 (CC BY 4.0)
•Foto: © Adobe Stock / AdobeStock_222441404
All data is licensed under CC BY 4.0, CC0, or compatible terms. Attribution according to license conditions. Full source overview →