American Beech
Scientific name: Fagus grandifolia
The only beech tree native to the US, it can grow as high as 100 feet and live to be hundreds (300-400) of years old. It grows slowly, and can take up to 40 years to produce nuts and seeds. These are edible and sweet, most often enjoyed by wildlife such as squirrels, game-birds and bear. This is a dense shade tree with a large root system that is close to the surface. It spreads through suckers, arising from the shallow roots, and in that way there are often large areas (“stands”) of beech trees that become established over the years. Unlike most trees, the beech is “shade tolerant” and able to grow under the shade beneath other trees. This wood is valuable as it is very strong, and so it has many commercial uses.
Leaves
Leathery green. Turns yellow, brown or bronze in fall. They may linger on the branches in winter. It is thought that this may keep the beech’s thin, light-coloed bark from getting sunburned in the winter.
Fruit
It produces a prickly husk containing two to three nuts.
Flowers
White globe shaped hanging flowers appear in spring.
What is a Mast Year?
A mast year is when nearly all of the trees of a species produce an exceptional abundance of fruits and nuts. The seed predators such as insects and squirrels can’t eat them all, so that a greater proportion of the nuts have a chance to survive, and eventually germinate and grow as saplings
Please Don't
Carve into the the beech tree. Its thin smooth bark tempts people to carve their initials in it. This can damage the health of the tree.
Habitat
Is often found where soil is rich. It was said that settlers could tell that land would be good for farming if the beech was present.
It will be found in woodlands with other hardwood trees such as the sugar maple, yellow birch, black cherry and white oak. Since it can grow in shady conditions, it can begin its life as an understory tree.
Leaves
Leathery green. Turns yellow, brown or bronze in fall. They may linger on the branches in winter. It is thought that this may keep the beech’s thin, light-coloed bark from getting sunburned in the winter.
Bark
Distinctive smooth grey bark.
Fruit
It produces a prickly husk containing two to three nuts.
Flowers
White globe shaped hanging flowers appear in spring.
Similar Species
The Copper Beech tree and European Beech tree are more commonly found as landscaping trees.
Ecosystem Connections
This is a valuable tree for wild life for the food that it provides. Even once it dies, its trunk is a habitat for birds, small mammals and insects. It is also the host plant for the Early Hairstreak butterfly.
Human Connections
This hardwood has many uses. Budweiser has advertised that its beer has been “beechwood aged”, in barrels made from this tree.
In the past...
This majestic tree was a primary habitat for the extinct passenger pigeon.
Smooth Grey Bark
Note Distinctive Serrated Leaf Edge
Two Beech Nuts
Flower in Spring
More on Trees and Shrubs in Lewisboro
Lewisboro was once entirely forested except for patches of open field caused by fire and wetlands and ponds which were expanded by beaver dams. Although it is hard to believe, by 1800 most of Lewisboro’s forests had been cut down and replaced by farms. In 1820 so many trees had been cleared that there was no shade anywhere along the route from Boston to New York.[1] But by the mid-1800’s farming here became uneconomical and as farms were abandoned, the forests began to re-grow. Today, 70% of New York is once again forest, what some call ‘the great environmental story of the United States’[2]. These new forests provide us with beauty and recreation, clean air and water, flood control, erosion prevention, carbon sequestration, cooler temperatures and habitat for other plants, insects, birds and other wildlife.
[1] Cronon, William. Changes in the Land. Macmillan, 1983.
[2] An Explosion of Green. B. Mckibben. Atlantic Monthly 275 (April 1995): 61-83.