Fagus grandifolia

RHS Plant Profile

American beech

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Other common names

purple beech

Synonyms

Fagus americana
Fagus ferruginea

Trees

A slow-growing, medium deciduous tree up to 15m in height. The bark is a smooth silvery-grey and its leaves, as its name suggests, are large, up to 15cm long, green through the summer turning light yellow in autumn. The inconspicuous flowers become bristly-cased nuts in autumn.

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: 8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Fagaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched, Suckering
Potentially harmful: Pets (dogs): Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Fagus are large deciduous trees with smooth grey bark, ovate leaves colouring well in autumn, and inconspicuous flowers followed by usually spiny fruits
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: E N America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Suitable for large gardens. Grow in any deep fertile soil in good light. For more information see tree cultivation.

Propagation

Propagate by seed. For more advice see our information on how to propagate from seed (tree/shrub

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Banks and slopes

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and beech scale

Diseases

May be susceptible to beech bark disease, fungi (particulary bracket fungi) and powdery mildews. Sometimes susceptible to honey fungus