ABSTRACT
The Beeches contain some of the largest and most imposing deciduous trees in the native forests of their homelands. Numerous selections, particularly of the European species Fagus sylvatica, have been made to further enhance possibilities for ornamental use. Fagus are notoriously difficult to propagate by means of cuttings and the use of micropropagation does not seem so far to have reached significant levels. Layering, grafting in the field and bench grafting are the alternative propagation methods, of which, in northern areas, bench grafting is the most important. Normally one-year-old Fagus sylvatica are lifted from seed beds to produce 1+1P 6–8mm potted rootstocks. Beech tends to produce a significant tap root and mid-season undercutting substantially improves seedling quality. Choice of scion material is important for the fastigiate cultivars, Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck’, F. orientalis ‘Iskander’. In Europe, Fagus sylvatica and its cultivars are relatively easily grafted during the dormant period using cold callusing.
