Beech
Fagus species (FAGACEAE)
Planting and Growing Beech Trees
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow beech trees in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, seedpods, and nuts of beech trees
- Growing conditions for beech
- When to plant beech
- How to plant beech
- How to prune beech
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of beech
- Landscape uses of beech
- Pest and disease control for beech
Growing Beech Trees
About 10 species of slow-growing, spreading or round-crowned, deciduous trees, to 100 ft. (30 m) tall, with shiny, green, oval, toothed, deeply veined leaves, 4–6 in. (10–15 cm) long, turning brown, yellow in autumn, and with smooth gray bark.
Cultivated species include American beech, Fagus grandifolia; European beech, Fagus sylvatica; and Japanese beech, Fagus crenata.
Beech Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Nuts
Inconspicuous flowers borne separately on male and female trees in spring. Bristle-covered seedpods bear beechnuts in autumn.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 4–9. Best in cold-winter climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich–average. 6.0–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun to partial shade. Space 15–20 ft. (4.5–6 m) apart.
Proper Care
Moderate. Allow soil surface to dry between waterings until established. Prune to remove pendulous branches and maintain high crown. Avoid transplanting. Propagate by seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, allées in shade, woodland gardens and roadside plantings. Pest and disease resistant. Leafburn susceptible in hot, dry climates.