Strange looking Copper Beech

[Matthew Arnold]

I spotted this in a friends garden. The was there when he moved in and he will leave it as its quite a querky looking tree.

[RobArb]

Its a cultivar of F. sylvatica possibly 'Grandidentata' or 'Rohan Gold'

 

It could also be F. sylvatica 'Asplenifoilia' (cut-leaved/fern-leaved beech)

 

but the first two seem more likely by leaf form

[RobArb]

Scrap that, its Fagus sylvatica 'Rohanii' 100%

[Big J]

I keep meaning to take pictures of it, but there is an enormous 200 year old beech up on an estate near Aviemore my friend lives on. It has two completely different leaves growing from it, often on the same branch. One is conventional beech leaves, the other not unlike the ones in the photos above, albeit narrower. Very strange indeed.

[RobArb]

The cultivar is probably a chimaera then, meaning it can grow "normal" leaves from the trunk and branches or reverting itself back to the dominant species, usually not all of the tree though as sounds in your case

 

usually happens when damaged in some way (even slight damage or stress)

[Peter]

A chimaera is a "graft hybrid", ie where a rootstock starts to produce it's own foliage on the scion.

 

It could just be a genetically unstable cultivar, with reversion appearing. In that case the most vigorous version usually takes over completely over a period of time.

[Highland Forestry]

I keep meaning to take pictures of it, but there is an enormous 200 year old beech up on an estate near Aviemore my friend lives on. It has two completely different leaves growing from it, often on the same branch. One is conventional beech leaves, the other not unlike the ones in the photos above, albeit narrower. Very strange indeed.

 

Where's this?!?

[chilli]

It has two completely different leaves growing from it,

 

I've spotted the same (& been puzzled) several times around the country. At Capel when down for the show earlier this year & also at Wimpole Hall, a National Trust property near here.

[arbmark]

i was just going to say cut-leaved beech but then it seems that isnt enough!!! from a bit of googling it looks like fag sylv laciniata. sexy.

[RobArb]

Scrap that, its Fagus sylvatica 'Rohanii' 100%

 

nope, check earlier in post