Lenga beech

Nothofagus pumilio

Major timber and forest-forming tree of southern Patagonia, reaching 25 m, with small toothed leaves that turn brilliant red and orange in autumn. The dominant tree of Tierra del Fuego’s mountain forests.

Hardiness ratings

Lenga beech hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 6–9 −23.3 °C to −1.1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H6 −20 °C to −15 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 6–8 −18 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–3 −15 °C to 0 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Native to Patagonia — forms vast monodominant forests in southern Chile and Argentina
  • Hardy in cold sites — tolerates the harsh Patagonian winters
  • Brilliant red and orange autumn colour — among the most striking Southern Hemisphere autumn trees
  • Distinct from N. antarctica — lenga is a larger and more upright timber tree, ñire is a smaller twisted shrub-tree of more exposed sites

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Lenga beech against your zones

Reference

Lenga beech on Wikipedia