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Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Native Plants < Native Plant Database < Fagus grandifolia
American beech is a great big, noble tree that can live for hundreds of years. The thin, silvery bark is supremely smooth even in old age, and the intricate twig structure lends a fine texture to even the largest trees. In spring, the new leaves are a fresh lime-green and so soft they seem almost liquid. The foliage turns dark green in summer and yellow and amber in autumn. Trees don’t usually lose all their leaves in winter. Instead, some hang on, dry and bright copper colored, to complement the silver branches and trunks.
American beech is an incredible wildlife tree. In fall, triangular beechnuts ripen, wrapped in prickly burs. Despite the burs, the sweet, pea-sized nuts are a primary food source for more than thirty species, including whitetail deer, raccoons, opossums, gray squirrels, chipmunks, red foxes, wild turkeys, wood ducks, rose-breasted grosbeaks, blue jays, white-breasted nuthatches, white-throated sparrows, red-bellied and red-headed woodpeckers, purple finches, common grackles, and chickadees. When the nuts are in season, they can make up half of a black bear’s daily diet.
Obviously, American beech makes a fantastic addition to the wildlife garden, but establishing this splendid tree in your landscape takes some patience and tender loving care. American beech is very easily damaged by drought, poor drainage, and disturbances to the root zone. It is especially sensitive to the compaction and grade changes that often accompany construction projects. Young trees require protection from the hot summer sun and perform better in the shade of larger trees. The ideal soil is loose, rich, evenly moist, and well drained, with plenty of decomposing leaves.
Fagaceae (Beech Family)
Large deciduous tree with 2 to 5", oval-shaped, serrated leaves. Small, petal-less flowers appear in March to April. Triangular beechnuts mature in September and October. Fall leaf color is rich brown and yellow.
80 to 100’ tall and 70’ wide.
Large, wide-spreading, dense-canopied tree. The roots are shallow and spreading and tend to sucker.
Slow.
Shade to part shade. Once established, trees will also thrive in full sun.
Transplant young, container-grown trees in early spring into rich, loose, evenly moist, well-drained, acid soil with plenty of leaf mold. Trees are very sensitive to drought, poor drainage, and root zone disturbance.
Assets include smooth gray bark, a gracefully spreading form, and yellow and amber fall leaves. Often, a portion of the withered leaves remains attached through most of the dormant season.
American beech makes an excellent shade or wildlife tree, especially on large properties. Its shallow roots make it difficult to grow grass under, so it is not recommended as a lawn tree.
Provides nesting for wood thrushes and pileated woodpeckers. Nuts are eaten by over 30 species of wildlife.
Found in rich, moist woodlands throughout the state. More common in the Piedmont and mountains than the Coastal Plain.
Stratified seed, layering.
Text and photo by Leslie Kimel, Georgia Wildlife Federation
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American Beech
