Images of the American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

American Beech

Fagus grandifolia

Native to eastern North America, these trees produce large amounts of seeds that are an important source of food for many native animals. Beech nuts were a primary food item of the now-extinct Passenger Pigeon and clear-cutting of these trees contributed to the decline of this once abundant bird.

Habitat:Prefers damp woods with rich soil.

Growth Habit:Deciduous tree, growing to 22.9 m tall with oval or pyramidal crown.

Bloom Time:Mid-spring.

Longevity:300-400 years.

Presence in US:AL AR CT DC DE FL GA IL IN KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS NC NH NJ NY OH OK PA RI SC TN TX UT VA VT WI WV

Presence in Canada:NB NS ON PE QC

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This project was supported in part by NSF Grant IIS-03-25867 (ITR: An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Exploration and Discovery in the 21st Century) and by the Washington Biologists' Field Club.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation (NSF).