Broadleaf Deciduous Trees
Fagus grandifolia
American Beech
Fagaceae
Eastern North America (Nova Scotia to N Florida, west to E Texas; rich deciduous forests)
At a Glance
TypeTree
HabitSpreading
FoliageDeciduous
Height50-80 feet (15-24 m)
Width40-60 feet (12-18 m)
Maturity40 years
Growing Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones
3 - 8Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy
Key Features
Native to North America
Maintenancelow
Overview
Fagus grandifolia is a large, upright to broadly spreading, deciduous tree reaching 50–80 feet (15–24 m) tall with a spread of 40–60 feet (12–18 m). This is the only beech native to North America. The bark is smooth, thin, silvery-gray, and remains smooth even on mature trunks—a year-round identification feature shared with F. sylvatica. The leaves are elliptic to oblong, 3–5 inches (8–13 cm) long with coarsely serrated margins and 9–14 pairs of prominent parallel veins—larger and with more veins than F. sylvatica (2–4 inches / 5–10 cm, 5–9 pairs). The leaves emerge pale green in spring, mature to dark green in summer, and turn golden-bronze to copper-brown in fall. The dried leaves often persist on lower branches through winter (marcescence). The flowers are inconspicuous—male catkins and small female clusters in April–May. Triangular beechnuts 0.5–0.75 inch (1–2 cm) in prickly husks ripen in September–October. Growth rate is slow—8–12 inches (20–30 cm) per year. Produces dense shade. Hardy to zone 3.
Native Range
Fagus grandifolia is native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia and southern Ontario south to northern Florida and east Texas, in rich, moist, well-drained deciduous forests, often forming pure stands or co-dominant with sugar maple (Acer saccharum) in the beech-maple forest association.Suggested Uses
Planted as a specimen shade tree in large landscapes—needs a site at can accommodate 50–80 feet (15–24 m) of height and 40–60 feet (12–18 m) of spread. The smooth silvery-gray bark, dense shade, and golden-bronze fall color are the primary features. The persistent winter leaves (marcescence) add winter interest. Functions as a native alternative to F. sylvatica in North American landscapes. Not suitable for small gardens, compacted soils, urban sites with root zone restrictions, or areas with beech bark disease pressure.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height50' - 80'
Width/Spread40' - 60'
Reaches mature size in approximately 40 years
Colors
Flower Colors
green
Foliage Colors
green
Fall Foliage Colors
gold
brown
Bloom Information
Bloom Period
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Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Pale green emerging; dark green summer; golden-bronze to copper-brown fallGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Partial Shade
Full Sun
Requires 3-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Soil Requirements
pH Range5.0 - 7.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamsand
Drainage
well drained
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Medium
Frost Tolerance
hardy
Time to Maturity
30-40 years
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plant in partial shade to full sun in moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soil. Tolerates shade—one of the most shade-tolerant large trees. Hardy to zone 3. Shallow root system—difficult to grow grass or other plants beneath the dense canopy. Does not tolerate compacted soil, root zone disturbance, or poor drainage. Transplant balled-and-burlapped or container-grown when young—resents transplanting. Beech bark disease (caused by beech scale insect and Neonectria fungi) is a serious threat in northeastern populations.Pruning
Prune in late summer to early fall to minimize bleeding. The naturally dense, broadly spreading form develops without pruning. Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches. Sucker removal at the base may be needed—F. grandifolia suckers more than F. sylvatica.Pruning Schedule
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summerfall