Fagus Grandifolia spring collection poll

[rockm]

Collect 2 or 3 of these beech. Then move down hill a little from the beeches, and see if you can find Carpinus caroliniana, Hornbeam. The hornbeam is far superior to beech in terms of being easier to work with and faster growing. Leaf is much smaller than beech, but quite attractive, more attractive than elm. Smooth bark of hornbeam is quite similar to beech, it has many of the attractive features of beech in a much easier to grow plant. Hornbeam like slightly wetter soils than beech, therefore, look a little downhill from the beech. Though in Michigan and Illinois I have found beech and hornbeam growing right next to each other. Hornbeam will grow with red maple, on land that floods for short periods in winter or early spring. Hornbeam is a forest understory tree, and forest edge species. Look for it. Autumn colors are good too.

Additionally, while American beech is a primary tree in the forest, towering over understory trees, hornbeam is not. That makes hornbeam superior to beech for bonsai, as it has tighter growth, more extensive capabilities with backbudding and finer twigging. Easier to manage overall--and mostly more character in their trunks. In the south Hornbeam has the "blue beech" nickname...

 

[19Mateo83]

Collect 2 or 3 of these beech. Then move down hill a little from the beeches, and see if you can find Carpinus caroliniana, Hornbeam. The hornbeam is far superior to beech in terms of being easier to work with and faster growing. Leaf is much smaller than beech, but quite attractive, more attractive than elm. Smooth bark of hornbeam is quite similar to beech, it has many of the attractive features of beech in a much easier to grow plant. Hornbeam like slightly wetter soils than beech, therefore, look a little downhill from the beech. Though in Michigan and Illinois I have found beech and hornbeam growing right next to each other. Hornbeam will grow with red maple, on land that floods for short periods in winter or early spring. Hornbeam is a forest understory tree, and forest edge species. Look for it. Autumn colors are good too.

I have collected 4 hornbeams so far this year and a liquidambar

 

[Crazy Diamond]

Anyone have tryed grafting European Beech in American Beech? coul be an option to get nicer leaf and ramification, Ive seen recently people make experiments grafting JP on Boxelder maple