Antarctic Beech

From the mountains and most southerly islands of South America, Nothofagus antarctica is a large, slow-growing, deciduous tree with an upright, broadly pyramidal habit and open crown; it is often found as a multi-stemmed tree. The bark is chocolate-brown with silvery markings. The leaves are small, crinkled and sweetly scented; they are deep green and glossy, turning bright yellow and orange in autumn. In early summer, unobtrusive yellowish-green catkins appear, followed by small, highly scented fruits with tiny nuts inside. Antarctic beech is a lovely tree for those who can give it the right conditions.

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soil: Moist but well-drained, acidic soil
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: Spring to autumn
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: more than 40’ (12m) Spread: 26’ (8m) in 50 years

Photos by Wendy Cutler and Clivid, cropped, and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 and BY-ND 2.0.