Topiary
Fagus sylvatica
Beech topiary
Fresh green in spring, rich green in summer and copper through winter. Beech topiary brings a soft, seasonal character to formal shapes.
Bright, fresh green new leaves
Holds coppery leaves through winter when clipped
Clips to clean, architectural forms
A classic British plant with a contemporary feel
Please check before you visit. Our nursery is very well stocked, but what we hold changes with the seasons, so this plant may not always be in stock. Enquire before you head over and we will check availability and the sizes we have for you.
At a glance
Type
Topiary
Foliage
Deciduous, retaining dry leaves through winter when clipped
Shapes
Cubes, blocks, domes, columns and bespoke forms
Growth rate
Moderate
Position
Full sun or partial shade
Soil
Well-drained soil, including chalk; avoid heavy, wet clay
Pots or ground
Best in the ground; large containers possible with care
Hardiness
Fully hardy in the UK
Available
Individually shaped pieces in a range of sizes. Ask our team for current shapes and pricing.
Why we love it
Beech gives topiary a life through the seasons that evergreens can't. New leaves come through a glowing lime green in spring, deepen over summer and turn copper in autumn, and clipped plants hold onto many of those dry leaves through winter, so the shapes stay full and warm.
Choosing a shape
Cubes and blocks are where beech shines: calm, solid shapes that repeat beautifully through a border. Use them alongside beech hedging and the whole garden ties together. Browse our topiary cubes to see what's in stock.
Planting and care
Plant between autumn and spring into soil that drains well, and water through the first summer. Beech doesn't like wet feet, so on heavy clay choose hornbeam instead. Clip once a year in late summer.
See it in person
Every plant at Form is hand-selected, none contains new peat, and nothing beats choosing yours by eye. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey, just 30 minutes from London, where our team will show you the best of what is on the nursery right now. We deliver across London, Surrey and the Home Counties, and nationwide.
Walk in any time during opening hours and you will be looked after. If you would like dedicated time with a specialist, book a Genus Bar appointment.
Frequently asked questions
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Once a year in late summer, which also encourages it to hold its leaves through winter.
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Yes, it copes with partial shade, although growth is densest in good light.
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We keep a very well-stocked nursery, but our stock changes with the seasons, so availability varies. Please email us before you visit and we will check what we have and the sizes available.
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Yes, and we recommend it. Every piece of topiary is hand-shaped, so no two are quite the same. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey to choose your pieces by eye. Walk in any time during opening hours, or book a Genus Bar appointment with one of our specialists.
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Yes, we deliver nationwide. Deliveries are arranged by our dedicated in-house operations team, and larger pieces can be offloaded by HI-AB or Moffett where needed.
All our topiary
Explore every option in our topiary collection, or view them all with photographs →
Fagus sylvatica
Can’t see what you’re looking for?
Get in touch and we’ll help you find it. Our nursery is very well stocked and we can source almost any plant through our network of trusted growers. Email info@formplants.com, or send us your whole plant list through our bespoke sourcing service.