American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
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American beech grows from the eastern coast of Nova Scotia westward to eastern Wisconsin, southward to eastern Texas, and eastward to northern Florida. An isolated variety grows in the mountains of northeastern Mexico. American beech grows in moist, well-drained, acidic soils. It prefers full sun but will tolerate shade.
Fruit: A 3-cornered, shiny, pale brown nut enclosed in a prickly bur. Fruit appears from September to October, and seeds are released in October or November after a frost.
Flowers: A yellowish green flower. Male flowers appear in drooping, long-stemmed, globular clusters. Female flowers appear in short spikes. American beech flowers from March to May.
Uses: The wood is used for flooring, furniture, veneer plywood, and railroad ties. It's preferred for fuel because of its good burning qualities. The fruit can be roasted and eaten or used as a coffee substitute. The leaves and bark can be used to make dyes. It's sometimes planted as a shade tree.
Ethnobotany: Native Americans used to use parts of the tree for building materials, food, and medicine.
Importance to wildlife: The mast is eaten by a variety of birds and mammals. The tree provides cover for the Carolina chickadee and the black-capped chickadee.
The full American beech tree. They can grow up to 130 feet tall, but typically grow to between 65 and 80 feet tall.
The bark of an American beech. Bark is smooth and light to dark gray.
A single leaf on an American beech. Leaves are 6-15 cm long, coarsely sharp-toothed, long pointed at the apex, and wedge shaped to slightly heart shaped at base. The veins are straight, parallel, and extend into each tooth.
The leaf arrangement on an American beech. Leaves are simple, alternate, and two ranked.
The bud of an American beech. Buds are long and slender, sharp pointed, and reddish brown or brown, with 10 or more overlapping scales.
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