The red beech & beech wood

The "Mother of the Forest" - the European Beech

The common beech (Fagus sylvatica) (colloquially simply called "beech") is one of the best known and most important representatives in Europe's forests.

Due to its impressive size and the many important tasks that the beech tree performs in the forest, it is also affectionately called the "mother of the forest". Among other things, it ensures the formation of valuable humus and penetrates the forest floor with its powerful heart roots, giving it stability.

The dense foliage and the distinctive, smooth bark are also further characteristics of this mighty European deciduous tree.

approx. 200 old copper beech

Bark of a common beech

Habitus & distribution of the European beech

The common beech is native to almost all of Europe and is widespread in many forests. It prefers deep, nutrient-rich soils and is often found in mixed forests. Waterlogged or excessively moist soils, on the other hand, are not suitable locations.

With its typical, round crown and a height of up to 40 meters, it is often impossible to miss and its impressive appearance characterizes the local forests. The thick main trunk often splits into two branches, which unfortunately poses the risk of beech trees becoming victims of serious storm damage.

approx. 200 old copper beech trees with storm damage

View into an autumnal beech forest

Beech trees or special beech species are also becoming increasingly popular in larger gardens or parks. Red or copper beeches are also being planted as hedges.

The copper beech in particular is a visual highlight due to its dark red leaf colouring.

Well-known beech species are:

• European beech
• Copper beech
• Chinese beech
• American beech
• Fern-leaved beech
• Copper beech
• Columnar beech
• various "hanging growth forms"

Note: The hornbeam is not related to the common beech and belongs to the birch family.

Beech trees can reach an age of up to 300 years.

Green leaves of the common beech

Autumn colouring of beech leaves

Properties & Use of Beech Wood

Beech wood is known for its hardness, elasticity and uniform structure. It is a heavy wood, but nevertheless easy to work with.

The color varies from a pale pink to a warm, reddish brown. This is where the name "red beech" comes from.

Beech wood is ideal for furniture, parquet and other carpentry work, but is also highly valued as firewood and is used for smoking.

The typical speckled wood is often seen on various kitchen utensils , cutting boards or children's toys.

Beech wood, however, is not suitable for outdoor use.

Use of beech wood

• Furniture construction, floor coverings: Due to its hardness and durability at a comparatively low price thanks to high availability, beech is probably the most frequently used valuable wood
• Kitchen utensils : Since the wood is hard and durable and does not splinter, it is often used for all kinds of kitchen utensils, cutting boards, children's toys, wooden bowls , etc.
• Firewood: Due to its high availability, easy splitting and excellent calorific value, beech is a popular firewood
• Packaging industry: Beech wood is also becoming increasingly important in the packaging industry, plywood, laminated boards, etc.

Fruits of the beech - beechnut

Beech firewood

My conclusion about the red beech and its wood

The common beech is not only an impressive and important component of our forests, but also a versatile wood.

Nowadays, beech wood is unfortunately often spurned - in my opinion, this is often due to the rather calm, almost "boring" grain pattern, but also because we come into contact with beech wood every day.

Beech wood, however, also offers particularly "wild" color combinations and grains, which are then referred to as "heartwood beech". Heartwood beech or wild beech is therefore not a "beech species" in its own right, but simply the name for the wood of the beech, which forms or does not form in the wood and around the core (not in the core!) during the life of the tree, depending on the specimen.

Beech wood tends to "chunk" quickly when exposed to the weather outdoors. This means that the wood is in the process of decomposing and is being broken down by fungi and discolored in a particularly decorative way. However, this process also causes the wood to lose its resistance and hardness, making it useless for further processing or as firewood - except for wood turners or other wood artists who use their own process to stabilize and strengthen chopped beech wood and process it for high-quality writing instruments , among other things.

Otherwise, the wood is excellent for turning . Wooden products such as wooden bowls , wooden vases , spice mills and the like often turn out well.

However, due to its hardness, grinding can sometimes be quite time-consuming.

Have I awakened your desire for beech wood? Then check out all the Products made from red beech wood to.

Wood products made from beech	Wooden wine stopper made of beech
Wooden bowl made of beech	Wooden vase made of red beech
Wooden writing instruments made of beech wood	Wooden bottle opener made of red beech