Round-Leaved Beech (Fagus Sylvatica ‘Rotundifolia’): Plant Care and Growing Guide
The Round-Leaved Beech, or Fagus Sylvatica ‘Rotundifolia,’ is a popular ornamental grass. Another name is Blue Fescue ‘Beyond Blue,’ which refers to Festuca glauca ‘Casca11’ PP23307. Gardening fans around the world know this plant well.
Best known for its low maintenance and slow growth, this ornamental grass will likely liven up your house (or garden) with its green colored leaves. But, only if you learn how to take proper care of it for it to thrive.
This is why all the topics you need to know to achieve this will be covered in this Round-Leaved Beech Care Guide. Ready? Let’s go!
Basic Care Requirements
The basic care guidelines you need to remember for your Round-Leaved Beech are the following:
- Water: The Round-Leaved Beech requires moist yet porous soil.
- Light: Keep your Fagus Sylvatica ‘Rotundifolia’ in an environment where it can receive partial to full sun on a daily basis.
- Soil: Keep the Round-Leaved Beech in moist, well-draining soil. Use a mix of sand, chalk, and loam for the best results.
That’s it – sunlight, water and soil! The basic 3 fundamentals for all plant care, and with the Round-Leaved Beech this is no exception. With these three elements, your leafy friend will live healthy and happy.
Scientific / Botanical Aspects
The Round-Leaved Beech is part of the Poaceae family. It belongs to the genus Festuca and the species Glauca. Its scientific name is Fagus Sylvatica ‘Rotundifolia’ (FA-gus sil-VAT-i-ka).
Other common Poaceae species include Virginia Bluebells, Golden Hakonechloa, Foxtail Grass, Exochorda ‘Blizzard’, Calamagrostis X Acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, Golden Japanese Forest Grass, Miscanthus Sinensis ‘Strictus’, Morning Light Maiden Grass, Phyllostachys Aurea, Calamagrostis X Acutiflora ‘Avalanche’ and Christmas Bush (Baccharis Magellanica).
As with other Festuca’s, the Round-Leaved Beech is a deciduous plant, which means it will shed its leaves annually once autumn comes.
Growing Region
The Round-Leaved Beech is a plant native to the North East Spain to North West Italy and Southern France.
Keep in mind your plants’ native region and environment. This is where your Round-Leaved Beech feels most at home and thrives best.
The Fagus Sylvatica ‘Rotundifolia’ thrives in heat zones 1 to 8. Its hardiness levels range from 4a to 9b. The ideal climate spans zones 1 to 24.
Growth and Size
Growth
In terms of size and growth, the Round-Leaved Beech is a relatively slow grower, which makes things easy for any plant enthusiast.
Size
But, how big does the Round-Leaved Beech actually get? What should you expect in terms of size? Let’s dive right in…
The Fagus Sylvatica ‘Rotundifolia’ can grow up to 9″ – 1′ (22cm – 30cm) in 9″ – 1′ (22cm – 30cm) and 1′ – 2′ (30cm – 60cm) in 1′ – 2′ (30cm – 60cm).
The Round-Leaved Beech is a medium-sized ornamental grass. Keep this in mind when deciding where to place it at home.
This is why experts recommend keeping an area of approximately 18″ (45cm) free so the Round-Leaved Beech can spread to its best extent.
Watering Needs
In terms of watering, the Round-Leaved Beech is a fairly complicated plant to take care of.
This is mostly because it has a not so straightforward watering schedule and somewhat irregular watering needs.
Specifically, most experts agree that the Fagus Sylvatica ‘Rotundifolia’ requires moist yet porous soil.
Which is why it is considered a plant with relatively low needs in terms of water.
Watering
Keep your Round-Leaved Beech in moist, well-draining soil. This helps your plant grow and thrive.
When you consider this, this is why you should aim to choose soil that has good drainage properties to keep the right moisture levels at all times.
But, if you want a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to watering your Round-Leaved Beech then you should consider the famous ‘finger’ test. To perform this test, you just need to put your finger in your plant’s soil and determine if it’s moist or not. If it is, then don’t water; if it isn’t, then please do. In any case, this test will allow you to know if your Round-Leaved Beech needs or does not need water, every time.
Soil Mix
The Round-Leaved Beech likes well-drained soil. So, mix sand, chalk, and loam for the best results.
In addition to this, expert gardeners recommend having preferably alkaline, acid or neutral soil.
Light and Exposure
In terms of light & exposure, the Round-Leaved Beech requires partial to full sun in order for it to thrive under the right conditions.
Most experts agree that this ornamental grass will do well as long as you keep it in full sun, and it will be able to grow properly.
We recommend placing your Fagus Sylvatica ‘Rotundifolia’ in different light conditions. It can thrive in little to partial shade, which means 2-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. You can also grow it in dappled or moderate shade, like under other plants. Lastly, it does well in full sun, with more than 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Season
Being a deciduous plant, the Round-Leaved Beech will shed its leaves annually once autumn comes.
But, you can expect it to have its ‘prime-time’ during the spring (early, mid, late), the summer (early, mid, late), the fall, and during the winter.
Flowers
Your Round-Leaved Beech will flower in spring and summer. Expect blooms from April to June in spring and from July to September in summer.
The Round-Leaved Beech has lovely green, blue-gold, yellow, and purple-lavender flowers this time of year.
Foliage
The leaves from the Round-Leaved Beech have a beautiful green color during most of the year.
Attracts, Tolerance and Resistance
The Round-Leaved Beech is great at handling rocky and dry soil. It also withstands drought and animals like deer. So, if any of these challenges arise, your Fagus Sylvatica ‘Rotundifolia’ will be just fine.
Garden
Does your Round-Leaved Beech have any garden recommendations? Does it serve any gardening purposes? Here’s how you can get the most out of your new plant.
Most owners of Fagus Sylvatica ‘Rotundifolia’ believe this ornamental grass looks great in cottage and rustic gardens.
Other owners believe they fit nicely in many gardens. These include informal, cottage, city, courtyard, gravel, rock, and Mediterranean styles.
The Round-Leaved Beech thrives in various spots in your garden. It works well in ground covers, banks, slopes, beds, and borders. You can also use it in patios and containers. Some people even use it as a standout specimen in landscaping.
Landscaping Ideas Featuring the Round-Leaved Beech
The Round-Leaved Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Rotundifolia’) is a beautiful focal point in gardens. Its dense, rounded leaves and graceful shape stand out. Its unique leaf shape sets it apart from other beech varieties, making it an excellent choice for a focal point in formal gardens, lawns, or courtyard landscapes. When placed strategically, this tree can anchor the entire garden design with a stately presence.
Plant shade-tolerant perennials like hostas, ferns, and hellebores around the base. They will complement the smooth, green canopy. These soft-textured companions enhance the tree’s beauty without competing for attention. In sunnier areas close by, ornamental grasses and flowering shrubs, such as hydrangeas, add balance to the design.
Here’s a seasonal planning guide:
| Season | Visual Feature | Tip |
| Spring | Bright green leaf flush | Add spring bulbs nearby for contrast |
| Summer | Dense, glossy canopy | Use dark mulch to highlight foliage |
| Autumn | Golden bronze leaf color | Pair with red-leaved shrubs |
| Winter | Structural silhouette | Add evergreens for background color |
Year-round, this tree offers both structure and grace—perfect for any thoughtfully designed landscape.
Conclusion
And we’ve come to an end. Fortunately, that’s everything you need to know about your Round-Leaved Beech to keep it safe and sound in your garden or home. Enjoy planting!
