Beech trees are native to the temperate regions of europe, asia, and north america. Carvings into the beech bark will persist for the life of the tree but besides marring the natural beauty of the tree may also serve as an entry way into the tree for fungi or wood damaging insects. In north america, they often form beech maple forests by growing together with the sugar maple. Though the american beech is widely considered a beautiful tree, it is unlikely to find this tree in a botanical garden or other similar landscape as horticulturists prefer its brother the european beech, fagus sylvatica, to be used as an ornamental. The species that is widely found in north america is known as american beech or fagus grandifolia. Beech that occur in the same region are shadetolerant and occupy places not subject to catastrophe, regenerating beneath undamaged tree.
May 10, 2017 this massive tree will slowly reach a height and spread of 50 or more feet. Old trees may be surrounded by a ring of young beech. Even in dense forest, the american beech is easily distinguished from other trees by its distinctive traits such as gray bark and elliptical leaves. Since the beech tree has such delicate bark, carvings, such as lovers initials and other forms of graffiti, remain because the tree is unable to heal itself. The beech tree s exacting requirements for growth made it an indicator of good farm land and as colonists began clearing land, the beech disappeared.
Historians claim that the first written european literature was. Not a good street or parking lot tree due to its need for good soil and lowbranching, horizontal habit. Features simple leaves that are 36 long with sharp, incurved teeth on the margins. American beech is a sturdy, imposing tree, 5080 ft. The european beech tree has an unmatched place in history. American beech is a distinctive and elegant forest tree in kentucky and throughout eastern north america. The american beech is not a tree you plant for fast growth and quick shade this slow grower is planted for future generations to enjoy. Very suitable for bonsai, as it shows great autumn colors and leaf size is naturally small. Its bark is very smooth and light gray, remaining so as the tree ages.
The true beauty of this tree is revealed during fall. The american beech is a common tree found in the forests and woods of eastern part of. Fagus grandifolia american beech native plants of north america. 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. This slick bark is so unique, it becomes a major identifier of the species. The tree has many interesting features that make it such an attractive species for multiple settings. It is a large deciduous tree typically growing to 5080 less frequently to 120 tall with a dense, uprightoval to roundedspreading crown. Sep 21, 2017 the american beech is one of the premiere shade trees of its range and one that you can add to your landscape if you have the room to grow it.
Before the glacial period, beech trees flourished over most of north america. These species can often become food for animals higher. The american beech is now confined to the eastern united states. Its exceptionally smooth, light gray bark makes the american beech stand out in any forest. The leaves are dark green, simple and sparselytoothed with small teeth that terminate each vein, 612 cm 2 1. Huge forests of american beech were thriving in ohio, kentucky, indiana and central michigan when colonists arrived. The trees we have are quite large, but many are hollow. Aphids on the trees lower branches may be sprayed off with a direct stream of water. The leaves of the american beech are also quite distinctive. Beech seeds are a great food source for a large variety of birds and mammals, including mice, squirrels, chipmunks, black bear, deer, foxes, and bluejays. The reference to muscle relates to the tree s characteristic fluted trunk and branches that look like muscle tissue. Beech fagus is a genus of deciduous trees in the family fagaceae there are species of beech they are native to temperate europe, asia and north america beech grows on a wide range of soil types, acidic or basic, provided they are not waterlogged.
Beech bark disease is a fungal infection that attacks the. Darkgreen, glossy, prominently veined leaves turn coppercolored in the fall. American beech s graceful, spreading form is superior to other beeches and is attractive throughout the year. Both are economically important timber trees and are often planted as ornamentals in europe and north. Beech tree pictures gallery contains many pictures of different varieties list of different types of beech trees, useful information and facts about the beech tree. Beech and basswood are rare in other north american vegetation types, but oaks, hickories, and maples are more widespread. A medium to large tree up to 100 feet tall with a rounded crown.
The american beech fagus grandifolia is the only species of beech tree native to north america but one of the most common. American beech, easily recognized from a distance by its smooth, steelgray bark and tapering surface roots at the base of its trunk, is present throughout all of ohio. The american hornbeams botanical name is carpinus caroliniana. 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 beech has been used for its wood by man for thousands of years. Aphids on the tree s lower branches may be sprayed off with a direct stream of water. The leaves are 36 inches long with a luxurious glossy appearance and small incurved teeth on the margins. In early spring new leaves emerge from buds as feathery tassels. It is a lowbranched tree with its mature trunk ranging from 23 in diameter. The american beech tree fagus gradifolia is native to the united states and is particularly abundant throughout the state of georgia.
New leaves emerge reddishpurple, changing to dark green, then turn yellow to orangered in the fall, offering a kaleidoscope of color throughout the year. It is a versatile tree, often used in parks, golf courses, acreages, and the forestry industry. Fresh from the tree, beech leaves in spring are a fine salad, as sweet as a mild cabbage though much softer in texture. The beechnuts were food for prehistoric man and are still consumed today. European beech downy serviceberry american chestnut. Combine this with loggers around where we live tending to leave beech and its easy to develop a stand of almost pure beech. American beech needs a loose, acid soil which is welldrained yet can retain enough moisture for its shallow root system.
The species is often one of the major deciduous forest plants. These trees grow faster than american beeches maturing in 30 years as opposed to 40, and they can get as tall as 160 feet. American beech is the only member of the genus fagus native to north america. Fagus grandifolia, commonly called american beech, is native to eastern north america. In winter, its bleached, tissuepaper leaves flutter against slategray trunks, in spring, jadegreen leaves emerge, in fall, the foliage turns shades of warm yellow and topaz. The beech tree loses its leaves in the fall and is therefore classified as a deciduous tree. This tree of multiple common names is an understory tree native to the entire eastern half. The american beech fagus grandifolia, native to eastern north america, and the european beech f. Young plants can survive in partially shaded areas, while mature trees require direct sunlight.
American beech trees hendricksen tree care services. Although the american beech produces its seeds over the course of a single year, this tree tends to produces its largest crops of viable seed every two to three years, shedding. Leaves typically hang on well into the winter months adding to the seasonal interest. Beech trees can survive in the understory for years.
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. This species can have problems with the beech blight aphid grylloprociphilus imbricator and beech bark disease, but it is otherwise a fairly troublefree tree. It is part of the betulaceae or birch family and has several nicknames, including blue beech, muscle beech, water beech, muscletree, musclewood, and ironwood. American beech trees for sale save 80%, grower prices. American beech wood was used as a source of fuel for their large, open fireplaces.
The tree bears flowers of both sexes, making it a monoecious plant. The american beech is not particularly tolerant of urban conditions, however. The tree is naturally lowbranched with attractive glossy green leaves providing deep, inviting shade. When the overstory is harvested the beech is released and has a head start over other species.
The american beech is a common tree found in the forests and woods of eastern part of the united states. Population and community development and structure. The american beech tree grows in the southern and eastern regions. 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 plenty of access to water. American beech is a large, graceful native tree, excellent for large, parklike landscapes where it has room to spread its wide, lowgrowing branches. Unlike most other hardwood trees, the american beech retains this smooth bark throughout its mature years. Also, american colonists used the beech leaves as stuffing in their mattresses and. The scientific name for the american beech tree is fagus grandifolia, according to. This tree is a favorite of children and teenagers who love to carve their initials onto its large smooth trunks. The wood has been employed for centuries for both fire and furniture in europe. Unlike most other hardwood trees, the american beech retains this smooth bark. Beech bark disease is a fungal infection that attacks the american beech through damage caused by scale insects.
Blue beech in reference to the bluegray, smooth bark that is akin to american beech is also known as american hornbeam compared to the landscape trees known as european hornbeam, musclewood alluding to its muscularlooking wood at maturity, and ironwood in reference to its very hard, dense wood. The formal and stately american beech holds a special place in many hearts. The american beech tree is the only member of the genus fagus found in north america. American beech is a tree well known to the early settlers, who used the. Beech grows on a wide range of soil types, acidic or basic, provided. Large tree with rounded crown of many long, spreading and horizontal branches, producing edible beechnuts. Jan 22, 2020 american beech fagus grandifolia is the only species of a beech tree in north america. 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 genus name fagus is latin for beech, and the specific epithet grandifolia comes from grandis large and folium leaf. It prefers the woodsy soils that it calls home, so if you live in an older neighborhood and native beeches grow nearby, this tree may be a good fit. It holds on to its toothed, goldenbrown leaves very late into the winter. Effects of beech bark disease on the growth of american beech.
American beech the wood database lumber identification. American beechs graceful, spreading form is superior to other beeches and is attractive throughout the year. The tree canopy casts a heavy shade shade, and the leaves, when dropped, cover the ground thickly. Fagus grandifolia american beech, beech north carolina. The widespreading canopy provides great shade in the summer and beautiful bronze coloring in the fall. American beech is a strikingly handsome tree with tight, smooth and skinlike light gray bark. Beech bark has suffered the carvers knife through the ages. Historians claim that the first written european literature was inscribed on beech bark in sanskrit. American beech department of horticulture university of kentucky. Beech trees are a favorite nesting tree for chickadees, who are cavity nesterschoosing holes made by woodpeckers. Beech usually grows on chalk, limestone and other welldrained and fertile types of soil. There are 11 species of beech that can be found in the northern parts of europe, asia and north america. Young plants can survive in partially shaded areas, while mature trees require direct. Oct 10, 2019 the american beech fagus grandifolia is the only species of beech tree native to north america but one of the most common.
Beech bark diseases severely deforms the smooth bark. Beech seeds are a great food source for a large variety of birds and mammals, including mice, squirrels, chipmunks, black bear, deer, foxes, and bluejays beech trees grow 1540 metres high and are found in europe, asia and north america a massive beech hedge has reached ten. The smooth bark of the beech tree is a favorite spot for lovers to carve their initials. Sep 21, 2017 american beech is the only member of the genus fagus native to north america.
Handsome foliage develops a golden bronze color in the fall. Also, look for the muscular roots which often remind one of creature legs and arms. American beech nut is fairly pest and disease free, although the tree is prone to aphid infestations. Often found in thickets produced by root suckering. It is a versatile tree, often used in parks, golf courses, and acreages. The american beech can live for three hundred to four hundred years and can reach heights of eighty feet and diameters in excess. This tree features a smooth, gray bark and nuts with a high oil content that are a good source of food for many species of wildlife, including bears, squirrels, wild turkeys and grouse. Fagus grandifolia, the american beech or north american beech, is the species of beech tree.
Fruit nut is eaten by ruffed grouse, wild turkey, bobwhite, pheasant, raccoon, red and gray foxes, whitetail deer, cottontail rabbit, opossum, porcupine, gray, red and flying squirrels. American beech, a top 100 common tree in north america. American beech tree fagus grandifolia for sale affordable, grower direct prices tennessee wholesale nursery. Also, american colonists used the beech leaves as stuffing in their mattresses and pillows. The american beech is easily recognized even in dense, complex forests by its thin, smooth, light gray bark. Beech tree leaves in winter add a nice splash of color. They are native to temperate europe, asia and north america. Plants profile for fagus grandifolia american beech. Branches spread horizontally to form a rounded top and dense growth. In north america, they often form beechmaple forests by growing together with the sugar maple. Common to see initials carved in the smooth bark but this is not good for the tree. American beech is possibly our countrys most elegant forest tree. Beech trees have male and female flowers on the same tree. The european beech tree fagus sylvatica, also known as the copper beech or purple beech, is a large beech tree native throughout western europe.
Wood used in inexpensive furniture and tool handles. The leaves are simple, alternately arranged, and elliptical to ovate with distinct, parallel side veins and a sharplytoothed margin. These trees are known as purple beeches because of the color of their leaves. American beech is a large, graceful native tree, excellent for large, parklike landscapes where it has room to spread its. Beech suckers readily, so a mother tree may be surrounded by dozens of its identical offspring saplings. American beech tree is native to north america and is characterized by smooth, silvery bark and dark green leaves. Newer subdivisions where the topsoil has been scraped off spell trouble. In the fall, the leaves turn bronze but weather to a light tan color. American beech tree information home guides sf gate. The root zone should be free of compaction and grass competition. Little grows in the dense shade of a beech tree but if low branches are left on the tree no ground cover or grass is needed. Beech is deciduous tree that belongs to the family fagaceae. Plant database lady bird johnson wildflower center. The reference to muscle relates to the trees characteristic fluted trunk and branches that look like muscle tissue.
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