AusBonsai

European Beech is a great tree for Bonsai. I have been working at a spot where there is a 80 to 90 year old tree and managed to collect a pocket load of viable seed
Is there anyone who has grown this species from seed? and if so, how do you do it to get the best results?

Thanks in advance, Damian Bee.

Hi Damian, I have 7 mature beech in my garden, 2 green, 4 copper and 1 tri-colour, and get the odd seedling popping up around the place but it is rare for beech to set loads of viable seed in this country. I would definitely refrigerate the seed until august then sow it and keep in a cool shaded spot. If you could send a pm to Nishiki I guess he would have some good advice for you.
Craigw

I think I remember that beech is one species that you should not dry the seed. It may have a short viability too. When I was helping Nell Saffin many years ago she was importing beech seed and said it needed to be sown immediately, even though it arrived here in Aust in late summer. She was able to get small seedlings before winter then most grew on the following spring. Seed that was stored until (our) spring did not germinate.
For local seed I would agree that stratifying (mix with damp peat/ sawdust/ cutting mix/ sand/ etc in a plastic bag and store in the fridge until spring then don't forget to sow it.

Shibui, I have some of the fagus crenata which Nell raised from seed, from memory she managed to germinate quite a lot of them. The beech here make copious amounts of seed capsules but almost none of them contain viable seed.
CraIgw

Thanks Shibui and CraigwI found that most capsules had 1 or both cavities within the capsule contained a seed that was either not fully developed or had been affected by a fungus which had gotten inside the seed coat. These seeds looked normal but were easily squashed to reveal that there was nothing but an empty casing. There are amongst all of this though plenty of viable (or at least what appears to be viable seed on the ground and in capsules still attached to the tree. These seeds are firm and plump, when the casing and coat is taken off it reveals a healthy white seed.

So far the good and the bad have been separated and now I guess it is time to sneak them into the fridge

I will keep you posted, wish those little ones luck.

Thanks Shibui and Craigw, I found that most capsules had 1 or both cavities within the capsule contained a seed that was either not fully developed or had been affected by a fungus which had gotten inside the seed coat. These seeds looked normal but were easily squashed to reveal that there was nothing but an empty casing. There are amongst all of this though plenty of viable (or at least what appears to be viable) seed on the ground and in capsules still attached to the tree. These seeds are firm and plump, when the casing and coat is taken off it reveals a healthy white seed.

So far the good and the bad have been separated and now I guess it is time to sneak them into the fridge

I will keep you posted, wish those little ones luck.

Damian Bee wrote:European Beech is a great tree for Bonsai. I have been working at a spot where there is a 80 to 90 year old tree and managed to collect a pocket load of viable seed
Is there anyone who has grown this species from seed? and if so, how do you do it to get the best results?

Thanks in advance, Damian Bee.

I found this tree to be a major pain in the arse for Melbourne conditions, when too hot.

Thats right Tony, I tried growing them for years in Footscray and even in the shade they burnt on hot days, I ended up getting rid of the beech, wish I had kept them now.
Craigw

Even up here in the hills of the North east they are touchy so i have also given up trying too. Still won't hurt to try germinating afew. fabulous trees if you can get them to grow well though.