How to Plant, Grow, and Care for American Beech Trees
Do you have an American beech tree on your land that you’d like to preserve and maintain for many years to come? Perhaps you’re thinking about transplanting a young, container-grown American beech somewhere near your home? These U.S. natives can become massive, living for hundreds of years if healthy. Plant biologist Emily Estep will tell you everything you need to know about the great American beech.
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The American beech tree is an iconic species in the eastern United States, native all the way up through Canada and down to the tip of Florida. These enormous perennials can grow up to 80 feet tall with branches surprisingly low on the trunk. Due to their size and the amount of shade provided by their leaves, you absolutely must have enough space before committing to this tree.
Fortunately, this native beech is a fairly low-maintenance tree as long as it gets enough water. There’s not much you need to do for this perennial when it’s planted in the right spot in the right zone, and you may enjoy gathering its edible nuts in the fall.
Like other species in the Fagus genus, there are a few detrimental diseases that find their way into these trees, so if you’re growing one, keep a sharp eye out. If you’re somewhere in the range of zones 3 through 9 and looking for a giant centerpiece tree, read on to learn more.
American Beech Overview
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Plant Type
Perennial tree
Family
Fagaceae
Genus
Fagus
Species
grandifolia
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Native Area
Eastern North America
Exposure
Full sun to partial shade
Height
60-80 feet
Watering Requirements
Average
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Pests & Diseases
Beech scale, beech blight aphids, beech leaf disease, beech bark disease
Maintenance
Low
Soil Type
Moist but well-draining
Hardiness Zone
3-9
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What Is It?
The American beech is a large, deciduous tree. It is the only one out of 13 total beech species that is native to the United States, found growing naturally throughout the eastern third of the country. Large, open areas are the best locations to plant these trees due to their immense size. They produce edible beechnuts that ripen in the fall.
Characteristics
This enormous tree can grow up to 80 feet tall with a trunk that may get up to three feet wide. It has smooth, gray bark, and its branches are relatively low. American beeches may live for up to 250 years. Note that growing other plants in the shade of this tree can be challenging, between the dense canopy of leaves and shallow roots that can monopolize the soil.
Native Area
American beech is native to the eastern United States and Canada, growing as south as northern Florida. This temperate region experiences seasonal weather, ranging from freezing, snowy winters to hot summers, especially in the southern tip of the range.
Planting
Transplanting established American beeches is difficult because of their shallow root system and enormous size, but you can purchase container-grown options to transplant instead. You can also grow these trees from collected beechnuts.
When planting, choose a location where the plant will have plenty of room to grow, and avoid planting in an area with compacted soil.
Transplanting
The best time to transplant is in winter and spring, before budbreak. If transplanting an in-ground beech tree, try to gently dig up a wide area, getting as much of the root ball as possible. If you aren’t planting it right away, cover the roots with burlap in the meantime.
If you’re transplanting a container-grown plant, keep it in its container or burlap until you’re ready to transplant it. You want to keep the roots protected from the sun during this time.
Dig a hole large enough to fit the entire root ball. Place the tree upright in the hole and backfill with soil. Water thoroughly, and mulch around the tree. Don’t allow the soil to dry out completely, especially in the first couple years of growth.
Growing from Seed
If you have ripe beechnuts on hand, you can attempt to grow a new tree from seed. But first, make sure they are viable. Place the seeds in a container of water for about 15 to 20 minutes. If they sink, they’re viable. If they float, toss them.
These seeds are more likely to germinate if you cold stratify them first. Place the seeds in a small container with some soil or compost, and put the container in the fridge. Leave it there for about a month to mimic winter.
Next, fill small pots with some moist potting mix. Plant the seeds in the mix at a depth that is about twice their size. Keep the soil moist but not wet while you wait for the seeds to germinate. As soon as they sprout, move the pots into a sunny location.
How to Grow
American beeches are fairly low-maintenance trees, especially if you’re comfortably near the center of their perennial zone. Plant these perennials in the proper lighting and in the proper soil.
Beyond watering during dry periods of the growing season, there’s not much you need to do besides potentially giving it yearly fertilizer and optionally pruning it.
Light
The American beech tree prefers good access to sun, but it will tolerate a variety of exposures from full sun to partial shade and even dappled sunlight through a canopy. A location that gets at least four hours of direct sun, or dappled light all day, is ideal.
Water
This species has average water needs and is not drought-tolerant. Whether you will need to water it and how often will depend on the type of soil it’s planted in and your region.
If the soil is dry at a depth of about two inches down, then you should water the soil thoroughly. Avoid watering whenever the temperature gets below freezing and resume again in spring.
Soil
These trees prefer moist, well-draining soil and will not grow well in compacted, soggy soil. Ideally, they appreciate soil that leans acidic, but it isn’t vital. Just avoid planting in alkaline soil.
The addition of compost each spring may move the pH in the right direction over time, in addition to giving growing plants a boost of nutrients.
Temperature and Humidity
Perennial in zones 3 through 9, this tree tolerates a range of temperatures, surviving in winters that get down to -40°F (-40°C) and summers that reach 100°F (38°C). It prefers average humidity levels between 40 and 60 percent.
Higher humidity can cause fungal growth. If you’re located in a region within American beech’s hardiness zone that tends to get pretty humid, consider pruning branches to promote air circulation.
Fertilizing
These perennials can benefit from some fertilizer each spring at the beginning of the growing season. You could use compost, manure, or other commercial fertilizers. Avoid fertilizing too often, which can burn the roots.
Maintenance
Prune either in autumn after the leaves have fallen or in early spring. You may want to remove any crossed branches, any damaged branches, or generally shape the tree to your liking. Avoid removing more than 25 percent of the total mass at one time.
Propagation
While it is possible to grow new American beeches from cuttings, it’s not easy. The best way to grow more of these plants is to start them from seed. Healthy specimens will produce plenty of seeds for you to experiment with in the fall, and there are few things more rewarding for gardeners than watching a tree grow from seed.
However, if you have a prosperous tree putting out tons of growth, it wouldn’t hurt to remove a few young branches and give stem cutting propagation a shot.
Cuttings
- Select a young, healthy branch, and sever a cutting from the host plant with clean, sharp pruners.
- Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting.
- Optionally, apply some rooting hormone to the bottom of the cutting.
- Prepare a pot with well-draining potting soil.
- Plant the cutting in the soil, and moisten it.
- Keep the soil moist, but not wet, until you see growth. Consider placing a plastic bag around the cutting to encourage a greenhouse effect.
Popular Varieties
There aren’t any other popular, official cultivars or varieties of American beech to grow. However, there is some controversy over the taxonomy of F. grandifolia and its number of subspecies.
Generally, two subspecies are recognized: F. grandifolia subsp. grandifolia, which is the classic American species, and F. grandifolia subsp. mexicana, which is native to central Mexico. Some plant biologists classify the Mexican subspecies as its own distinct species.
Further, some taxonomists argue that specimens growing in the southern portion of their native range should be classified as F. grandifolia var. caroliniana.
Common Problems
The American beech is a relatively resilient tree without many common problems. Some find its shallow roots to be somewhat of a nuisance, as growing other plants or an even lawn below the tree can be difficult.
Otherwise, this native species occasionally suffers from a couple of devastating diseases, one caused by scale insects. There’s basically no coming back from these illnesses, so it’s crucial that you know the early signs and what to expect.
Pests
- Beech scale: These pests contribute to beech bark disease. They appear to be small white spots on the bark. These scale insects feed on the tree, and a canker-causing fungus is able to enter through the wounds, which will kill the tree with time. Use scale-targeting insecticides to manage early infestations.
- Beech blight aphids: These pests appear to be wooly masses. They are not harmful on their own, but aphids excrete honeydew, which develops into sooty mold. Horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps can prevent these aphids. You may even be able to spray them off with water.
Diseases
- Beech bark disease (BBD): Scale insects initially cause this disease, along with fungal pathogens. Fruiting bodies of the fungus appear to be red splotches on the bark. Over time, the tree becomes cankered. At this point, a variety of boring insects descend on the sick tree. Woodpeckers, etc., follow. There are no treatments for BBD, so regularly check for scale insects and remove them with insecticides.
- Beech leaf disease (BLD): This newer disease results in leaves that develop stripes, curl up, or become leathery. The production of leaves and buds declines over time. Little is known about how it spreads. It eventually leads to mortality.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you keep these trees healthy?
The first step to keeping this species healthy is making sure it’s planted in the right spot and in the right soil. Choose a location that gets at least four hours of sunlight or dappled light through a canopy. Plant in moist, well-draining soil, and avoid compacted soil. Water regularly, especially during times of drought, and provide fertilizer each year in the spring.
How long do they live?
While it’s typical for F. grandifolia to survive for a couple hundred years, it’s possible for them to live for as long as 400 years. They can really thrive in areas of decent lighting and moist soil.
Can beeches survive from BLD?
Unfortunately, not for too long. The exact cause and nature of this disease remains a puzzling mystery, so there is no cure at this time. Saplings that develop this disease tend to die in a few years, while larger trees will survive for a longer amount of time.
What does a diseased beech tree look like?
Trees that have BLD will have sections of leaves that have yellow stripes, sometimes curl, and become thick and leathery. BBD, on the other hand, has multiple visual stages. Initially, you may see white scale insects on the bark. Over time, red fruiting bodies of the fungus that these insects invite will appear, and if it rains, this can look like red streaks. Cankers and decay follow.
