The genus name fagus is latin for beech, and the specific epithet grandifolia comes from grandis large and folium leaf. The digital materials images and text available from the uconn plant database are protected by. The american beech can live for three hundred to four hundred years and can reach heights of. It holds on to its toothed, goldenbrown leaves very late into the. Riversii, rohanii and spaethiana also listed as spathiana this trio represents the most common forms of standard f. The fungus kills the bark and in the process, the insects. The formal and stately american beech holds a special place in many hearts. It is a large deciduous tree typically growing to 5080 less frequently to 120 tall with a dense, uprightoval to roundedspreading crown. These trees have toothed leaves, and smooth gray bark. New leaves emerge reddishpurple, changing to dark green, then turn yellow to orangered in the fall, offering a kaleidoscope of color throughout the year. American beech is a climax species that grows slowly underneath an overstory of conifers or hardwoods. Although the american beech tree is known to attain a height of approximately 100 ft, in home landscapes, it has been seen that the species rarely exceed a height of 50 ft. Not a good street or parking lot tree due to its need for good soil and lowbranching, horizontal habit. The leaves are oblong and the flowers are greenish.
Look at the shape, pattern and arrangement of scars. Fagus grandifolia, commonly called american beech, is native to eastern north america. American beech is a large, graceful native tree, excellent for large, parklike landscapes where it has room to spread its wide, lowgrowing branches. Leaves typically hang on well into the winter months adding to the seasonal interest. Thin, smooth, and light gray throughout even on trees with large diameters. American beech needs a loose, acid soil which is welldrained yet can retain enough moisture for its shallow root system. In open areas, the trunk is typically short and stout, while the crown is large. Fagus grandifolia, american beech plant database university of. The color can be deeppurple to approaching black in spring and early summer, but. They are long living and can take upwards of forty years to begin to produce seeds. American beech is used for lumber, veneer, ties, pulpwood, slack cooperage, and fuel. American beech fagus grandifolia beech family fagaceae description. This is especially true when leaf arrangement is combined with other characteristics, such as the presence or absence of petioles or the quality of being sessile or nonsessile. Unlike most other hardwood trees, the american beech retains this smooth bark throughout its mature years.
It is a versatile tree, often used in parks, golf courses, acreages, and the forestry industry. It also occurs in other plant habits such as those of. Leaf scar arrangement there is one leaf scar per node on the stem or twig superposed buds there are no superposed buds on the branch winter bud scale hairs the winter bud scales have no hairs on them. If your tree has leaves like this, it is probably a horsechestnut tree. The buds of this tree look like tiny little cigars. Leaf scars these are below the buds and are left when the leaf falls off in autumn. Provided by usda nrcs wetland science institute wsi.
The american beech tree fagus gradifolia is native to the united states and is particularly abundant throughout the state of georgia. It is a lowbranched tree with its mature trunk ranging from 23 in diameter. Fagus grandifolia american beech, beech north carolina. Tree identification the american chestnut foundation. Examples include various bulbous plants such as boophone. American beech fagus grandifolia the american beech is easily recognized even in dense, complex forests by its thin, smooth, light gray bark.
The american beech is botanically called fagus grandiflora. Pith the soft center section of the twig is important for storage and transport of nutrients. Fagus grandifolia, the american beech or north american beech, is the species of beech tree native to the eastern united states and extreme southeast canada. The trunk is lightsteelgray and beautifully mottled. Leaf veins are featherveined strong mid vein with secondary veins branching out from therein. The species that is widely found in north america is known as american beech or fagus grandifolia the american beech is a common tree found in the forests and woods of eastern part of the. Sugar maples and american beech trees are the two dominant trees of the northern hardwood forest, often found growing together. The leaf of the beech is very slit and on the upper side glossy dark green. American beech beech fagus grandifolia height 6080 characteristics. Dried leaves will remain on the tree well into winter. Branchlets are first a light yellowgreen but turn a reddish brown. The american beech is easily recognized even in dense, complex forests by its thin, smooth, light gray bark.
The american beech fagus grandifolia is found from nova scotia, southwest to northern florida and over to the mississippi river and into eastern texas, eastern oklahoma, and northwest arkansas. Tree is popular for carving initials in as the bark doesnt change much with age. The american beech is not a tree you plant for fast growth and quick. The leaf margin is serrated and the leaf arrangement is alternate. By contrast, the leaf arrangement of american beech trees is alternate, with only one leaf occurring at every node. Its edible beechnuts are harvested in the fall and eaten by. The american hornbeam is a native forest understory tree in the chicago area, making it useful for shady landscapes and naturalized or woodland gardens. The scar will look different for each kind of tree. The root zone should be free of compaction and grass competition. Plants profile for fagus grandifolia american beech. Makes an excellent hedge because of its ability to withstand heavy pruning.
The lush green foliage of the tree takes on a brilliant bronze hue, before fading. A forest containing a multitude of american beech was found in northeatern ohio along the slopes of a. The leaf is wider and shorter than the american chestnut tree leaves. The widespreading canopy provides great shade in the summer and beautiful bronze coloring in the fall. Public use via the internet for nonprofit and educational purposes is permitted. The flowers are small and singlesexed monoecious and the female flowers are borne in pairs. American beech is less demanding than sugar maple and can also be found on poorer sites where. Control the disease by controlling the scale with a horticultural oil. The tree likes sun to partial shade at the location and the soil should be sandy loamy to clayey. The leaves of the american beech are elliptical, with pointed tips, and have many. The leaf margin is serrated and the leaf arrangement.
American beech is native to eastern north america and is a large deciduous tree typically growing to 6080 tall or more with a dense, uprightoval to a roundedspreading crown. Scfc tree identification for sc toothed simple leaf. The leaves are oblong to oval and are about 10 cm 3. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. If your tree lookes like this, then it is probably a beech tree. Its exceptionally smooth, light gray bark makes the american beech stand out in any forest. It is grown for shade and ornamental value due to its spreading canopy and bronze fall foliage. American beech fagus americana the american beech is native to the united states and canada. Very visible in the woods in fall and winter since it retains its pale brown leaves until early. This tree normally grows from 50 to 70 feet tall, with a rounded crown. The male flowers are borne on globose heads hanging from a slender stalk, produced in spring shortly after the new leaves appear. The leaf margins are coarsely sawtoothed, pointed at the tip. American beech fagus grandifolia unlike most hardwoods prefers shade.
Fagus grandifolia american beech environmental horticulture. The american beech produces edible brown fruit called beechnuts, typically 12 to 1 12 inches in size, contained in husks covered in soft spines. Leaf buds are over 1 inch long, sharply pointed and smooth, a good identification marker. Leaf arrangement opposite 7 alternate 5 whorled 1 leaf division simple, undivided 9 2 or 3parted 1 palmate 1 leaf lobe number 1 9 3 2 5 2 4 1 leaf main color dark green 1 shiny green 1 leaf margin smooth or wavy 6 toothed 6 leaf margin wavy no 8 yes 2 leaf shape wider near middle 6 wider near base 3 linear.
The true beauty of this tree is revealed during fall. Excellent quality wood, cooperage, furniture, but unattractive grain. Watson2 introduction an excellent small to medium tree, common persimmon is an interesting, somewhat irregularlyshaped native tree, for possible naturalizing in yards or parks fig. Fagus grandifolia american beech page 4 beech bark disease occurs when the feeding site of woolly beech scale is invaded by a fungus. The leaves are simple, alternately arranged, and elliptical to ovate with distinct, parallel side veins and a sharplytoothed margin. Beech, also known as fagus is a genus that includes ten species of deciduous trees, which belong to the family fagaceae.
The american beech fagus grandifolia is a large, deciduous tree that grows in northern hardwood forests in the adirondack mountains of upstate new york. The leaves of beech trees are alternate with entire or sparsely toothed leaf margins with straight parallel veins and on short stalks. Distichous phyllotaxis, also called tworanked leaf arrangement is a special case of either opposite or alternate leaf arrangement where the leaves on a stem are arranged in two vertical columns on opposite sides of the stem. The beech tree can be recognized by its smooth gray bark and abundant foliage and can most often be found in woodland areas that have. Paleobiologists tell us that at one time the beech was found through most of north america and could grow there now.