Nothofagus truncata

Nothofagus truncata Details

Nothofagus truncata, commonly known as Hard Beech, is an evergreen, NZ native tree growing up to 30 m tall and 15 m wide. The foliage comprises small, mid-green leaves. It produces masses of tiny, red, bell-shaped flowers in summer. The trunk bears bark that is thick, furrowed and of a slate grey colour. The wood, which is red when cut, has been used for bridges, posts, poles and railway sleepers. Best performance with this tree is achieved when planted in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained site. It is tolerant of frost, cool climates, and a wide range of soil conditions and climates. Nothofagus truncata makes for a lovely specimen in the larger garden and is also commonly added to a native planting, used in regeneration plantings, or grown for timber.