Rauli Beech (Nothofagus alpina)

Rauli Beech will be shipped from mid-October, once new leaves have hardened and are safe to transport

Nothofagus alpina (syn. Nothofagus procera), known as the Rauli Beech is a deciduous tree found in South America from 35 to 42° South latitude. It is found in the Andes, specifically in the Argentinian province of Neuquén near the Chilean border, and in Chile, the central southern coastal cordillera and Andes (Maule, Ñuble, Bío Bío, La Araucanía, Los Ríos and Los Lagos regions). It is found in mixed mountain forests to 1000 metres; avoiding frost pockets and tending to give way to Nothofagus obliqua in drier sites and Nothofagus dombeyi in the wettest sites. It is almost confined to deep, free-draining volcanic soils.

Raulí Beech has earned a quite widespread place in the UK and Ireland as an ornamental specimen, where there is enough room; the winter silhouette is elegant, the leaves flush briefly bronze in spring, and autumn colours are usually some shade of orange, gold and crimson red. In Australia, growth is most reliable in the milder and more humid cool to temperate regions; the species certainly dislikes hot dry summers, and damage to the leader in areas prone to late spring frosts may also result in trees with weak forks or heavy low limbs.

Raulí Beech produces elegant timber, similar to that of European Beech. In its natural range, some specimens reach heights between 40 and 50 metres tall with a spread of 8 metres. In garden settings, anticipate heights around 30 metres with a spread of 4 to 6 metres where conditions are favourable. Shelter from hot, dry winds and plant on southerly cool aspects.