Deciduous Beech (Fagus)

About

Tasmania's only native deciduous tree and the only cold-climate winter-deciduous tree species in Australia. Known locally as 'fagus', it turns from green to gold and sometimes brilliant red each autumn above about 800m elevation.

How to spot it

A small, gnarled woody shrub or tree to about 8m with small, rounded, alternate leaves that have a distinctive folded, 'concertina' texture. Easiest to identify in April-May when its foliage turns yellow to red against the surrounding evergreen alpine vegetation.

Found in

• Mount Field National Park
• Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park