About
Nothofagus antarctica, the Antarctic beech, is a broadly conical, often multi-stemmed, deciduous tree with small, dark-green, glossy leaves with crinkly margins, turning yellow in autumn. A shapely and ornamental tree for a sheltered, moist garden.
About the genus
Nothofagus are deciduous or evergreen trees from the Southern Hemisphere with similarities to the northern beech (Fagus) but producing very short-stalked, usually much smaller leaves and flowers solitary or in threes. Grown as specimen trees in sheltered, moist gardens.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, North-facing, East-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeTrees
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
HeightHigher than 12 metres
Spreadwider than 8 metres
Time to full heightMore than 50 years
Suggested usesArchitectural
Native toChile, Argentina
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile, lime-free, moist but well-drained soil in full sun
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in a seedbed in autumn
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids and beech bark scale
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility. May also be susceptible to root rot