Fagus grandifolia – American Beech Tree

Botanical Name: Fagus grandifolia

The American Beech tree is one of the major trees that makes up the deciduous hardwood forests in eastern North America, along with maples and oaks, among others.

The American Beech or Fagus grandifolia is an upright tree that grows to a height of 50-80 feet and a width of 40-80 feet. Its growth habit is open and spreading with a rounded or oval canopy.

It has distinctive, smooth, gray bark. Its flowers are a yellowish-green color and appear in mid to late spring. The male flowers are clustered together and pendulous. The female flowers are more upright and are displayed in spikes. The beech nut follows the female flowers in fall. They are a triangular shape and covered in a spiny protective covering. The nuts are produced every 2 to 3 years. These are edible to wildlife and attract animals and birds to the tree.

Grandifolia means ‘large leaves.’ The American Beech leaves are up to 5 inches long, with shiny, dark green, oval or elliptical leaves. They have distinctive parallel venation and coarsely toothed margins. The leaves turn golden and bronze colors late in the season, providing a wonderful fall display.

The American Beech tree dislikes being transplanted, so after planting out as a young tree, it is best to leave it growing in the same location. This tree holds its leaves until late into the fall and winter, making it a useful tree to plant as a hedge. It also has a low branching structure that contributes to its hedging qualities.