The Institute of Landscape Architecture was heavily involved in the development of the master plan for the outdoor spaces of the TU Dresden campus. The European beech was sponsored in an effort to conserve the number of trees on campus. In the winter 2018, a European beech on the site where the sponsored tree is located had to be felled as a result of storm damage.

The European beech is the most important stand-forming tree species in Central European semi-natural forests. These deciduous and richly branched trees can reach a height of 20 to 30 meters and form a dense, broad and arching crown when left to stand freely. The main use of this tree is in the forestry industry, but it can also be planted individually in green spaces and open areas. It is only moderately suitable for urban areas due to its poor tolerance to drought and waterlogging. It is a good food plant for caterpillars (for 68 butterfly species) and its fruit (beechnuts) is an important source of food for mammals and birds, and it also provides nesting habitats for various bird species, small mammals and insects.