Common Beach ( Fagus sylvatica)

Sun Needs:

• Full sun to partial shade
• Prefers full sun for best form and foliage color
• Tolerates some shade, especially in youth

Bloom Time:

• Spring
• Small, inconspicuous flowers
• Male flowers are catkins; female flowers are in pairs and give rise to beechnuts

Size:

Height: 50 to 70 feet (can reach over 100 feet in ideal conditions)
Width: 40 to 60 feet

Attributes:

• Smooth, silvery-gray bark
• Glossy green leaves that turn coppery-bronze in fall
• Dense, rounded crown
• Produces edible beechnuts (for wildlife)
• Can be pruned into hedges or screens
• Provides excellent shade and wind protection

Care Tips:

• Prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil
• Avoid compacted or poorly drained soils
• Water regularly during establishment
• Mulch to retain moisture and protect shallow roots
• Minimal pruning needed—best done in late winter or early spring

Pest Watch:

• Generally pest-resistant
• Watch for beech bark disease (a combination of scale insects and fungal infection)
• Monitor for aphids and leaf spot in humid conditions