NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Fagus grandifolia

American Beech, Gray Beech, Red Beech, White Beech

Scientific Name:	Fagus grandifolia
Genus:	Fagus
Species Epithet:	grandifolia
Common Name:	American Beech, Gray Beech, Red Beech, White Beech
Plant Type	Tree
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Fagaceae (Beech Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Invasive Status:	^(*Key)
Size:	36-72 ft., 72-100 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	Brown
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day, Less than 2 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Moist
Bloom Time:	March, April, May
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain
Habitat Description:	Var. caroliniana: moist forests, from near sea level to low elevations in the Mountains, mostly below 1050 meters (3500 feet); common throughout NC. Blooms March to May. Var. grandifolia: moderate to high elevation forests, especially on high elevation ridges, gaps, and open slopes, often forming clonal dwarfed thickets in the most exposed situations. Common in the NC mountains. Blooms April to May.
Leaf Arrangement:	Alternate
Leaf Retention:	Deciduous
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Highest Wildlife Value
Landscape Value:	Suitable for home landscapes
State Rank:	S5: Secure ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G5 - Secure ^(*Key)
Notes:	Smooth gray bark and golden fall foliage; holds onto its leaves late into the winter. Weakley recognizes 2 varieties in NC, but notes that the taxonomy is complicated.
Mature tree illustrating smooth, gray bark Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Young trees retain their senesced leaves throughout the winter Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Close-up of branches in winter Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Close up of terminal bud Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Woody husk covered with spines contains edible nuts. Person County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Newly germinated seedling with very distinctive cotyledons. Seven Mile Creek Natural Area, Orange Co., NC Bettina Darveaux
A little bit older seedling with fully expanded first true leaves. Panther Branch Natural Area, Orange Co., NC Bettina Darveaux
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/species_account.php https://nc.audubon.org/700 https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/fagus-grandifolia/ https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/fagus/grandifolia/