FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA – American Beech
The American Beech tree once existed throughout the US, however, today they are mostly found in the eastern half of the United States.
[Elementary students]
Did you know?
How can you identify this tree in the winter?
* It holds onto its leaves longer than most other trees.
Who eats the nuts from the tree?
* Birds and other animals eat nuts from the Beech tree. People roast Beechnuts and can use them as a substitute for coffee.
When the trees get older, the bark looks like what animal?
* The older bark looks like the skin of an elephant.
How long can the tree live?
* The Beech tree can live to be 300 to 400 years old.
The wood is used for?
* The wood from beech trees is used for flooring, furniture and containers.
[Middle school students]
Leaf: Shiny green in the summer and turns red/orange in the fall
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a865
(Go Botany)
Habitat (where it likes to live)
* Well drained soils in full sun and also in wet soils
* Location: Eastern North America (Zone 3 to 9)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagus_grandifolia
Requirements (what it needs to live)
* Water: Medium to dry soils
* Maintenance: Low
Identification (what it looks like)
* Light gray bark
* Twigs – have long skinny stems and look a little like thorns
[High school students]
Habit (how it grows)
* Height: 50 feet to 80 feet
* Spread: 40 feet to 80 feet
* Bloom Time: April to May
* Bloom Description: Yellowish-green
* Sun: Full sun to part shade
* Fruit – Nuts that are edible
* Does not like – to be planted in the fall or to have compacted roots
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/fagus-grandifolia/
Suggested Use (where to plant it):
* Shade tree in the yard
* Parks – Seth Hand Park
References:
- NC State Extension - https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/fagus-grandifolia/
- Missouri Botanic Garden – missouribotanicgarden.org
- Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagus_grandi