Fagus grandifolia

• BOTANICAL NAME: Fagus grandifolia
• PRONUNCIATION: FAG-us gran-di-FOL-e-a
• COMMON NAME: American Beech
• FAMILY: Fagaceae
• NATIVITY: Grows throughout, very common tree especially in rich woodlands
• GROWTH HABIT: 50-70’ (100’)
• HARDINESS: Zone 4 to 7
• OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS:  Rich woods, throughout the east coast.  Very common and hardy.  Commonly found throughout White Clay State Park.
• SUCCESSIONAL STATUS:  Climax
• FACULTATIVE STATUS:  Facultative Upland
• LANDSCAPE USE: - fall color Beautiful native tree, climax species and often used by many different species of animals.
• FOLIAGE: Alternate, simple, serrated.  Silvery green when opening, dark green at maturity, fall color tends to be golden bronzed and often times persists during the winter.
• BUDS: Long, drawn out, pointed, and scaled.
• BARK: Extremely smooth, light gray bark.  Easily identifiable characteristic
• FRUIT: 3-winged nutlet, very beneficial to wildlife
• PESTS: Bronze birch borer