Beech Fagus
Other plants called Beech:
- Phonetic Spelling
- FAY-gus
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Beech is a genus of deciduous trees with smooth bark and acute, elongated winter buds and is native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. There are 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, Engleriana and Fagus. The subgenera Fagus is the one native to North America and Europe and Engleriana is native to Asia.
Plant in well-drained fertile soils in full sun to partial shade. All species of beech prefer light soils with good drainage, but their shallow rootplate makes them vulnerable to drought and windthrow. Both the European and American Beeches are considered to be at great risk from climate change in many parts of their natural ranges
Beech trees are especially suitable as a shade tree for homes, parks, libraries, etc.
Beech trees are a mainstay of the grand landscape and an important woodland and ornamental tree across northern Europe. In the hot and humid parts of East Coast North America, from about Washington DC southwards, F. sylvatica fails to thrive and is better replaced by the suckering native F. grandifolia.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
Beech trees are generally unaffected by pathogens, but Beech Bark Disease is significant in both North America and Europe. The disease results when the Beech Scale insect feeds on beech bark producing lesions that become infected by the fungus Neonectria faginata, eventually killing the tree.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- F. crenata, F. engleriana, F. grandifolia, F. sylvatica
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- F. crenata, F. engleriana, F. grandifolia, F. sylvatica
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Fagus
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Nuts are pressed for oils. The wood is used in construction and for firewood.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Asia and North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are eaten by mammals and birds.
- Edibility:
- Nutmeats, in small quantities, edible raw or cooked. Young leaves can be cooked for greens in the spring.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Maintenance:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit, known as beechnuts or mast, is found in small burrs that drop in autumn. They are small, roughly triangular and edible, usually with a bitter taste. There are two per cupule; they are distinctly three-angled and may have a small wing.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The female flowers are borne in pairs, the male flowers in wind-pollinating catkins in spring.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The alternate leaves vary depending on the species and can be oval to lance-shaped with or without toothed margins and sometimes wavy margins. Fall color varies also. The leaves have parallel lateral veins terminating with an acute or obscure marginal tooth.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- Smooth gray bark
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
