© Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. As the Latin name grandiflora indicates, the tree has elliptical leaves that are large for the genus, up to 5 inches long. The American variety is the loftiest at 80 feet tall. American Beech: Beech Tree Leaves & Branches Beech, More pictures, images & photos of Beech Trees TreePicturesOnline.com has many different types of tree species on the left column, you will find each category has valuable info on that type of tree, tree growth rates, variations of the species, tree pests, diseases, timber wood facts and many close up tree photos. Beech, also known as Fagus is a genus that includes ten species of deciduous trees, which belong to the family Fagaceae.Beech trees are native to the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. American hornbeam, also known as blue beech (Carpinus caroliniana), and ironwood, aka American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) also tend to hold leaves. Daniel Boone could read and write, and scholars have dismissed the inscription as the work of someone else. Still, the longevity of American beech bark and its irresistible resemblance to paper cannot be dismissed. Like the roble, found in USDA zones 7 through 9, the Antarctic grows up to 50 feet tall, while Dombey's Southern beech reaches 65 feet in USDA zones 8 and 9. Beech, More pictures, images & photos of Beech Trees. It may be winter, but these beech trees at Knox State Park in East Aurora, New York still have leaves on them. (Some varieties in Europe have yellow, purple, or mixed coloring. The American Beech Tree (Fagus gradifolia) is native to the United States and is particularly abundant throughout the State of Georgia. The university does not review, control or take responsibility for the contents of those sites. These carvings remain on the tree indefinitely. You don’t often see leaves in winter way high up in a big beech tree. The Tree is a deciduous tree, it will be up to 30 m (99 ft) high. An Equal Opportunity University. The leaves of American Beech trees turn yellowish to reddish brown in the fall. In hilly locations, it was the home for migrating Passenger Pigeons who were so numerous that they broke off the limbs of the trees from the sheer weight of their numbers when they perched on them. The beech tree is a sturdy and imposing tree with a short trunk and wide-spreading crown. There are many theories: the dry leaves may be a deterrent to winter browsing by deer, moose and other mammals; holding some of the leaves until spring may be the trees’ way of time-releasing some nutrients for recycling into the soil; the leaves may funnel more snow melt to the tree’s root system. The leaves are dark green, simple and sparsely-toothed with small teeth that terminate each vein, 6–12 cm (2 ⁄4–4 ⁄4 in) long (rarely 15 cm, 6 in), with a short petiole. This is the only beech species that is an original native to North America. Handsome foliage develops a golden bronze color in the fall. The foliage of the Antarctic beech changes to bronze or gold in the fall. Pioneers used beech leaves to stuff mattresses. The national champion American beech (115 feet) is in Maryland. The copper beech, for example, has deep red or purple leaves that turn lighter in the fall). American beech has no serious insect or disease problems, but nectria canker and beech scale are potential problems. It … Infection can lead to the death of the tree. The American beech is notable for its smooth, gray bark and slender twigs that become distinctive after leaves are shed. The leaves of the American and the roble may change color in the fall -- bronze or yellow for the American and red, gold or orange for the roble -- or they may remain green before shedding. Beech trees that grow in the warmer areas of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10 -- which eliminates all of the European varieties -- include the American beech (Fagus grandifolia), the Antarctic beech (Nothofagus antarctica), the roble beech (Nothofagus obliqua) and Dombey's Southern beech (Nothofagus dombeyi). The Antarctic variety has brown or green grooved or scaly bark, as do the trunks of the roble and Dombey's Southern beech, though the bark on these trees may also be gray in color and have a smooth texture. The pale, brownish blooms aren't showy. Beech trees have male and female flowers on the same tree, so that wouldn’t be a reason. The winter twigs are distinctive among North American trees, being long and slender (15–20 mm ( ⁄8– ⁄4 in) by 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in)) with two rows of overlapping scales on the buds. 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. All four trees have moderately dense foliage and are useful as shade trees. American Beech: New Beech Tree Leaf & Leaves. Because its copper-yellow leaves fall only when new leaves begin to sprout, the Beech advises that you make certain of your future rather than leave things to chance. Figure 1. For general undergraduate student information, contact Dr. Rick Durham at (859) 257-3249, or rdurham@uky.edu. Typically, among trees that hang onto leaves after they’ve turned brown, it’s the younger ones that do this the most. American beech also provides nesting habitat for a variety of birds, and cavities within older trees provide dens for owls, squirrels and other mammals. American beech wood was used as a source of fuel for their large, open fireplaces. It will not tolerate wet or compacted soils. For undergraduate student information regarding the Sustainable Agriculture program, contact Dr. Krista Jacobsen at (859) 257-3921, or krista.jacobsen@uky.edu. In North America, all beech trees have green leaves. Other trees such as sugar maple are occasionally marcescent. Beech grows on a wide range of soil types, acidic or basic, provided they are not waterlogged; but prefers chalky soils and limestone. The Antarctic beech, which grows in USDA zones 7 through 10, has a high canopy, while the other three have canopies that cover an extensive area, up to 40 feet wide. A cold spell and snow ensured the leaves on most trees crinkled up and turned brown. Why do American Beech and other trees keep some of their leaves in winter? Identification of the American Beech: This tree normally grows from 50 to 70 feet tall, with a rounded crown. In early spring new leaves emerge from buds as feathery tassels. This tree has a shallow root system that makes growing grass under it difficult. Beech bark disease is a fungal infection that attacks the American beech through damage caused by scale insects. The American Beech is botanically called Fagus grandiflora. Click here, then click on your county either on the map or from the list of counties below it. It is a deciduous tree growing to 20–35 m (66–115 ft) tall, with smooth, silver-gray bark. The American beech is a common tree found in the forests and woods of eastern part of … The flowers are small and single-sexed (monoecious) and the female flowers are borne in pairs. The massive trunk has beautiful silver gray bark; the dark green summer foliage turns a golden bronze in the fall. The leaves are dull green above and lighter green below and turn yellow or brown in the autumn. In the second half of autumn, the leaves turn golden-bronze. The Antarctica, roble and Dombey's Southern beech also produce beechnuts, though they are smaller, growing no larger than 1/4 inch. It prefers full sun but will tolerate shade. It is a sturdy, imposing, large deciduous tree typically growing to 60 to 80 feet tall or more with a dense, upright-oval to a rounded-spreading … The American beech is found in the eastern United States and in southeast Canada. A database that provides information on more than 200 native tree and shrub species, and on almost 300 insects and 200 diseases found in Canada's forests. Leaves typically hang on well into the winter months adding to the seasonal interest. For graduate student information, contact Dr. Doug Archbold at 859-257-3352, or darchbol@uky.edu, American Beech - Fagus grandifoliaBeech Family (Fagaceae). Beech ashes were used to make soap. Its branches are stronger than the other varieties, which are rated medium in strength. Beech trees are conical and erect with a spreading habit. Beech leaf disease is a disease spread by the newly discovered nematode, Litylenchus crenatae mccannii. They are from two and a half to six inches long and two and a half inches wide, elliptical in shape with many parallel side veins and coarse, saw-toothed edges. Beech trees are monoecious, producing both male and female flowers on one tree. Beech is prone to decay if wood is damaged andimproper pruning will decrease its life span. In 1916, a 365-year-old, 70-foot tall American beech in Washington County, Tennessee finally died. Site design : Academic Web Pages. Ornamental Trees With Small Prickly Fruit, Penn State University: The Virtual Nature Trail at Penn State New Kensington: American Beech, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens: Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway: Roble Beech, Cal Poly Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Antarctic Beech, Cal Poly Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Roble Beech, Cal Poly Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Dombey's Southern Beech, Cal Poly Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: American Beech, Arborday.org: The Tree Guide: American Beech. The tree is … Copyright 2020, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. This is called marcescence. For the American beech, these marcescent leaves occur on younger trees and on the lower branches of older trees. They are between 3 and 6 inches long, with saw-toothed edges. It is the fifth … American Beech on the Loggers Loop Trail near the VIC building (13 October 2013). Send mail to cgcass0@uky.edu with questions about this site. Her work includes articles on gardening, education and literature. The tree likes Sun to partial shade at the location and the soil should be sandy - loamy to clayey. Karen Clark has been writing professionally since 2001. American beech (Fagus grandifolia), whose smooth gray trunks can resemble giant elephant legs, can grow to almost 40 meters tall. No, this is not about identifying palm trees or any of the various other flora found on beaches, but rather a very common and very useful tree. Beech Family (Fagaceae) Introduction: American beech is a distinctive and elegant forest tree in Kentucky and throughout eastern North America. Fagus grandifolia, or American beech, is native to eastern North America and found throughout the state of North Carolina. Her professional experience includes teaching and tutoring students of all ages in literature, history and writing. She holds a Bachelor of the Arts in political science and a Master of Fine Arts in writing. The leaves of the American beech are also quite distinctive. Beech leaves are typically oblong or oval and medium to dark, glossy green. They are native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America. Identifying features of these four varieties isn't difficult, though telling them apart can be as they are similar in many ways. The leaves of the American and the roble may change color in the fall -- bronze or yellow for the American and red, gold or orange for the roble -- or they may remain green before shedding. American Beech Tree and Your Fall Foliage Design But the best features of the American beech tree are its fall foliage and winter interest, although it is an attractive specimen year-round. The leaves of beech trees are alternate with entire or sparsely toothed leaf margins with straight parallel veins and on short stalks. Huge forests of American beech were thriving in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and central Michigan when colonists arrived. pH of 5 to 6.5. There are 13 species of beech. What Is the Difference Between Horse Chestnut & a Chestnut Tree? It is now used to make household items such as wooden kitchen utensils and clothespins. Beech has paper-smooth bark and, unfortunately, many people are compelled to carve into it. WARNING: Some websites to which these materials provide links for the convenience of users are not managed by the University of Kentucky. Identifying Beech Trees: Yes, the title is spelled correctly. This site was last updated on December 18, 2020. Beechnuts attract squirrels, birds and other mammals, making them centerpieces for wildlife observation. American beech is more difficult to propagate and produce in the nursery than European beech so it is not often sold in commercial nurseries. American beech is a large, graceful native tree, excellent for large, park-like landscapes where it has room to spread its wide, low-growing branches. It should be pruned in summer or early fall. The American beech tree along with a few other species such as scarlet and pin oaks have leaves classified as marcescent, which means the leaves wither but do not detach from the branches. The scars of an inscription ("D. Boon Cilled A Bar On Tree In Year 1760"), which had been legible some 35 years before, remained on its trunk. However, beech leaves and twigs are not preferred by white-tailed deer and are only browsed when there is very little available. Although there is an American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) which is native to the East and Utah, the tagged tree in City Park is a European Beech (Fagus sylvatica. It grows in the widest range of areas, being found in USDA zones 3 to 8. The leaves are oblong and the flowers are greenish. The beautiful Beech tree, elephant-gray with light-brown buds in Winter, predicts a wonderful, budding phase for you. The bark is a medium gray and the canopy forms a dense oval to rounded crown. They hang on for much of the winter, after turning tan. Beech buds are distinctly thin and long, resembling cigars; this characteristic make… The American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) is a large, deciduous tree that grows in northern hardwood forests in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York.Sugar Maples and American Beech trees are the two dominant trees of the northern hardwood forest, often found growing together. Clark has also published short literary fiction in the "Southern Humanities Review" and has co-authored a novel. How Tall Does an American Chestnut Tree Get? The nuts are green and contained in cup-shaped structures. Beech (Fagus) is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae. All produce fall color except for Dombey's Southern beech, which is an evergreen. 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. The American beech produces edible brown fruit called beechnuts, typically 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches in size, contained in husks covered in soft spines. The roble and Antarctic beeches produce alternating leaves that overlap, giving the impression of a herringbone pattern. Fall … A sturdy, densely canopied tree, the American Beech was a sign of fertile soil to early settlers and was quickly removed so the plow could take over and farming for food could commence. 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