American Beech
Fagus grandifolia • Fagaceae
🌱 Seed Category
Tree
🌍 Origin Region
Eastern North America, from Nova Scotia down to Florida and west to Texas.
📅 Days to Maturity
15-25 years to reach seed-bearing maturity; 40-100+ years to reach full height.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-9; hardy to -40°F.
About This Seed
The seed (beech nut) is a small, roughly triangular nut (1/2 to 3/4 inch), brown, and oily, enclosed in a prickly burr. The mature plant is a large deciduous tree with smooth gray bark and elliptical, serrated leaves.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Sow outdoors in Autumn or late Winter; requires natural stratification for spring emergence.
Germination
Requires 90-120 days of cold moist stratification at 34-40°F. Germination occurs in early spring as soil warms.
Planting Instructions
Plant 1/2 to 1 inch deep in moist, well-drained loamy soil. Keep protected from squirrels/rodents.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers consistent moisture while young; high drought sensitivity.
Companion Plants
Grows well with Sugar Maple and Yellow Birch (Climax forest association); avoid competition from aggressive sod-forming grasses.
Special Characteristics
Known for smooth, slate-gray bark, edible nuts (beechmast) high in protein, and providing critical wildlife forage for birds and mammals.