American Beech Tree In New Jersey
The American beech (fagus grandifolia) is a species of tree native to the eastern US and Canada. It thrives in New Jersey soils. From woodlots to back yards, this tree is a sign of fertile soil and the American settlers used it to find the perfect locations to start their farms.
It is widely used in landscaping for its attractive shape and foliage. It can be grown as either a shade tree or an ornamental tree, and is known for its broad canopy that provides a great deal of shade and its attractive, smooth gray bark.
This tree is also popular for its long life, making it a great choice for longer-term landscaping projects. Its large, dark green leaves make it a great choice for adding visual interest and beauty to any landscape.
Beech Tree ID Images
- Tree
- Bark
- Leaf
Beech Tree Size At Mature
- Ht.50-70’
- Canopy Wt. 35-45’
- Lifespan: 300-400 years
Attributes
- American Beech trees develop a dense canopy and provide golden bronze fall color.
- Its simple leaves are 3–6″ long with sharp, incurved teeth on the margins.
- These trees yield edible, hard, brown beechnuts that are ½–1″ in diameter.
- Despite slow growth, American Beech trees are known for their longevity.
- As it ages, it retains its smooth bark.
- These trees need plenty of space and grow in an oval shape.
Benefits of an American Beech Tree
Wildlife
The American Beech tree offers a plethora of wildlife benefits. Its beechnuts serve as an important food source for deer and squirrels and provide sustenance for a variety of birds. In addition, the American Beech tree is an important nesting spot for many species of birds and provides a habitat for a variety of other wildlife. The tree’s dense canopy also serves as a windbreak, protecting other wildlife species from harsh weather. This tree is an important part of the ecosystems in which it grows and provides many benefits to the wildlife in the area.
Community
The American Beech tree is a beneficial addition to any community. Its large, spreading canopy provides shade and shelter for people, animals, and other plants. The tree is also a great source of oxygen, helping to improve air quality and reduce air pollution.
Commercial
American beech is more difficult to propagate and produce in the nursery than European beech so it is not often sold in commercial nurseries.
Environment & Ecosystem
This beech tree is an important part of the environment, providing many benefits. They create much needed shade and shelter for wildlife, and their roots help to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion. In addition, their fallen leaves provide organic matter for the soil, which helps to maintain soil fertility and promote healthy plant growth. The tree also provides habitats for birds and other wildlife, and its nuts are a source of food for many animals.
See How Much Your Beech Tree Helps The Environment.
Tree Growth
Thinking of Planting A Beech Tree?
Zone
It is a hardy tree that can be expected to grow in Hardiness Zones 4–9.
Soil
This majestic, deciduous tree that is native to North America and is capable of growing in a variety of soil types. It prefers acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, silty loam, well-drained and clay soils but is very drought sensitive and can succumb to drought conditions if not adequately watered. It prefers a slightly acidic soil with a PH 5.5-6.5.
Sun
The American Beech should get 6 hours of full sunlight per day to reach a peak growth rate of 12-24 inches per year. You don’t want to crowd this tree with faster growing or taller trees when it is young.
Root System
This tree has a shallow root system that makes growing grass under it difficult. Care should be taken when cutting the lawn around the roots, so you don’t cut and scar them.
American Beech Tree Diseases & Insects
Are Your Beech Trees Healthy? Are They Diseased or Invaded By Pests?
Beech Bark Disease
Many American beech (Fagus grandifolia) trees are suffering from a destructive disease known as beech bark disease (BBD). The disease is caused by the beech scale insect (Cryptococcus fagisuga) damaging the bark and vascular tissue, followed by infection from fungi such as Neonectria faginata, Neonectria ditissima, and Bionectria ochroleuca. The beech scale was first introduced from Europe to Nova Scotia in the 1890s, and has since been slowly spreading throughout the range of American beech.
Trees weakened by beech bark disease are more likely to break during windy weather, a danger commonly referred to as “beech snap” that can pose a threat to homes, properties, and recreational areas.
Bleeding Canker
Bleeding canker is an extremely serious infection of the bark of several different species of trees. It is caused by a fungus-like micro-organism called Phytophthora, which can attack at any time of year. The infection causes the affected bark to ooze a dark, sticky fluid, which can quickly spread to other parts of the tree.
If left untreated, the infection can kill the tree, leading to the destruction of large areas of woodland. It is important to take precautionary measures to protect trees from bleeding canker, such as avoiding activities that may damage the bark, and using fungicides to prevent the spread of the infection.
Laetiporus Root Rot
Laetiporus species are a type of fungi (Chicken of the Woods) that cause a brown rot in infected trees. This rot decays the cellulose and hemicellulose while leaving the lignin in an altered form. This process leads to a dramatic reduction in the bending strength of the tree, making them much more vulnerable to uprooting or stem failure when exposed to strong winds. Brown rot caused by Laetiporus species can be especially dangerous for oaks, as the rot can weaken the roots and make the trees much more likely to be blown over.
Tree Symptoms
Beech Bark Disease Symptoms
Scale insects appear as white fuzz on tree trunks, which can be scattered or dense, depending on the severity of infestation. The damage done by scale usually does not kill the tree, but it can weaken it. The insects may remain on the tree for years before a fungal infection begins. At that point, the tree’s leaves may become smaller and yellow, and the canopy may reduce in size. Cankers will eventually form on the trunk.
Bleeding Canker Symptoms
Large and reddish-brown cankers may form on the major roots and trunk of a tree, sometimes extending up several feet. These cankers are caused by a fungus entering wounds and succulent roots. They are well-defined and may ooze a reddish-brown sap. Symptoms of the infection may include yellow, stunted leaves and dying branches on the beech tree.
Laetiporus Symptoms
Laetiporus Root Rot is a fungal disease caused by the fungus Laetiporus sulphureus. It is a serious disease of trees, particularly oaks, and is characterized by canopy dieback, stunted shoots, and undersized or pale-colored foliage. It can also be identified by clusters of yellow to salmon to orange, shelf-like fruiting structures (conks) that turn white with age, which form in the summer or autumn months on the trunk near the ground and fall off during the winter. Laetiporus Root Rot can spread quickly and is difficult to manage, so prevention is the best way to avoid this disease.
Tree Treatments
Beech Bark Disease Management
The beech scale can be managed and treated at a single-tree level with the use of brushes, a water blast, insecticides, or insecticidal oils. However, these control measures must be applied again every year to maintain effectiveness. A small portion of trees have been identified as being resistant to the beech scale, and scientists are using them to identify and cultivate genes for resistance, in order to produce beech trees that can repopulate the native range.
Bleeding Canker Treatment
Unlike many other chronic diseases of landscape trees, effective treatment for Phytophthora Bleeding Canker is possible. Phosphite (Agri-Fos, Phostrol, Reliant, etc.) applications have proven to be very effective in controlling Phytophthora Bleeding Canker. The phosphite helps to stop the spread of the disease by preventing the spread of the pathogen in the tree’s vascular system, and can also stimulate the tree’s own defense system to help it fight off the disease.
Phosphite should be applied at least two times per season, and can be applied as a soil drench or through a foliar spray. With proper application, phosphite treatments can help to keep Phytophthora Bleeding Canker in check and prevent the spread of the disease.
If the beech tree is too far gone, remove the infected tree and wait until the soil has been fumigated and aerated thoroughly before replacing it.
Treating Laetiporus Root Rot
Once the tree has been infected with Laetiporus Root Rot, there are no cures and the fungi cannot be eliminated from the surrounding soil once the tree is removed. This makes it especially important to practice proper planting and maintenance procedures in order to prevent the root rot from taking hold in the first place. These practices include avoiding planting trees too deep, ensuring proper irrigation, and maintaining good air circulation around the tree.
American Beech Tree Uses
Landscaping
Planting an American Beech tree can provide a beautiful and stately addition to any landscape. Its smooth gray bark and dense crown provide a unique texture and visual interest. The tree is also highly resilient and can adapt to a variety of soil and climate conditions. In addition, the tree is a good choice for providing shade in areas where other trees may not be suitable. It is also relatively slow-growing, which helps reduce pruning and maintenance costs.
Firewood
Beech wood makes an ideal firewood due to its ease of splitting and burning for long periods of time with bright, yet tranquil flames. A cord of Beech firewood produces about 27 million BTUs. It is a great fireplace wood as it produces little smoke.
Lumber
This wood is a popular choice for making a variety of products, such as furniture, flooring, toys and kitchen utensils. Its strength, flexibility, and durability make it an ideal choice for many applications. It is also an excellent wood to turn on a lathe due to its straight grain and even texture.
Furthermore, its tonal properties make it a great material for making drums. It has a tone that lies between the tones of maple and birch, which are the two most popular woods for making drums. Beech wood is an ideal choice for many woodworking projects due to its versatility and strength.
Use the Tree Calculator to see how much your American Beech tree is worth.
Fun Facts About American Beech Trees
Daniel Boone Tree In Tennessee
In 1916, the old Beech tree on the stage road between Blountville and Jonesborough, Tennessee that had an inscription carved into its trunk reading “D. Boone Cilled A Bar On Tree In Year 1760” fell, with a girth of 28-1/2 feet. The Forest Service estimated the tree to be 365 years old, meaning it was already two centuries old when Daniel Boone inscribed on it.
Oldest Beech Tree
A 546-year-old beech tree, the oldest of its kind in Europe, has been discovered by an Italian research team in Kalkalpen National Park, Upper Austria.
Name Carving
Due to its extreme thinness and delicate nature, beech bark scars easily and is unable to heal itself, making it a popular target for carvings, such as lovers’ initials and other forms of graffiti, that remain indelibly etched into the tree.
Beeches are Monoecious
Beeches (Fagus species) are monoecious, meaning they bear both male and female flowers on the same plant. The female flowers are borne in pairs, while the male flowers are wind-pollinating catkins. These flowers emerge in the spring, shortly after the new leaves appear.
