Fagus grandifolia

American Beech

Fagaceae

Also known as Fagus americana

Plant Specifics

Form:	Tree
Size:	40-80 (100) ft tall by to 40 ft wide
Life Span:	Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:	NA
Fruit Color:	Brown
Phenology:	Deciduous
Noted for:	Interesting bark, Fall color, Interesting foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:	Shade tree. It is known for its smooth light gray bark. Its leaves turn yellow and then light brown remaining on the tree until nearly spring and providing interest to the winter landscape. If you are privileged to have this tree in the landscape, retain and protect it.
Considerations:	This is a large tree that will produce dense shade and many root suckers. Take this into consideration when deciding where to plant it. Slow growing.
Propagation:	Seed.
Availability:	Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Quality nurseries
Light:	Full Sun,  Part Shade,  Shade
Moisture Tolerance:	always floodedextremely dry
	(Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Short very dry periods)
Moisture Tolerance:	Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Short very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:	Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:	Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or other substrate:	Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH:	Acidic

Ecology

Wildlife:	Fruits (a nut in a bur) are valued by wildlife.  Tree valued for nesting by some songbirds.
Insects:	Larval host for walnut sphinx (Amorpha juglandis).
Native Habitats:	Upland, mesic to dry mesic hardwood forests.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Comments

Ethnobotany:

Nuts edible.