Beech trees are among the trees that can grow quite old, although they are not nearly as durable as oaks, for example. However, when cared for in the garden, the trees usually do not reach such an old age. However, very old specimens can also be found in old parks or dense beech forests.
How old do beech trees get and how do you determine their age?
Beeches can reach a maximum age of 320 years, with the average age being around 150 years. The age of a beech can be determined by measuring the circumference of the trunk and taking into account the location and historical traditions.
How old do beech trees get?
A beech tree lives a maximum of 320 years. The average age of beech trees is 150 years because most trees are cut down beforehand in order to use the wood.
How can the age of beech trees be determined?
The age of a beech tree is determined based on two data: the trunk circumference and the location. For very old beech trees, a third point comes into play, namely historical tradition.
- Trunk circumference
- Location
- historical tradition
The trunk circumference is measured at a height of approximately one meter and recorded in centimeters. For a beech tree with a trunk circumference of 100 centimeters, the age is estimated to be around 55 years. At 150 centimeters the beech is around 80 years old.
If you want to calculate the age of a beech tree yourself, measure the trunk circumference and multiply it by 0.6. You will get an even more accurate result if you measure the trunk circumference twice, at a height of 1.50 meters and at a height of 1.50 meters. The average value is formed from both measurements.
The oldest beeches in Germany
One of the oldest and largest beeches in Germany is probably the Bavaria beech, which is located near Pondorf. Their age is estimated at 200 to 320 years. The giant beech near Oberbach, also in Bavaria, is about the same age. In Baden-Württemberg, the double beech tree, estimated to be 200 to 320 years old, is located in the town of Utzenfeld.
Most of the old beeches, which are also called strong beeches because of their trunk size, are in Baden-Württemberg, followed by Bavaria. In the northern regions of Germany, beech trees usually do not grow as old because of the less favorable climate and the often sandy soil.
Tip
The importance of beech trees in Germany is also reflected in the fact that many places are named after the tree. There are around 1,500 towns whose names go back to the word beech.