AMERICAN BEECH

Fagus grandifolia

Height: 60-80'
Width: 50-60'
Hardiness Zone: 3
Exposure: sun or partial shade
Origin: Eastern North America

Description:

Deciduous tree with shiny 2-5” long leathery leaves and smooth light gray bark. Develops broad oval crown in open landscape and narrow oval form in woodlands. Common tree in eastern North American woodlands where it commonly suckers to form a colony. Fall foliage is golden-bronze turning to tan and retained in winter on lower tree branches. Shallow root system.

Site and Cultural Requirements:

Prefers well-drained soil of pH less than 6.5. Will not tolerate compaction. Surface roots on mature trees may interfere with lawn mowing. May benefit from mycorrhizal application to facilitate nutrient and water uptake.

Insect/Disease Issues:

Beech bark disease has resulted in serious loss of American beech in forests in some regions of eastern North America. The disease appears less problematic in landscape plantings probably because of isolation from woodland stands. The disease results from sequential infestation from beech scale insects followed by Nectria fungi causing canker-type injury to trunks. Other insect and disease problems are uncommon.

 

We would like to thank the Landscape Plant Development Center and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for the botanical information and photos.

 

Open 9:00 AM until Sunset
Closed Mondays, open holidays
Phone: (515)-992-4211
Email: info@thebrentonarboretum.org