Fagus grandifolia (American Beech)
American Beech, Purple Beech, White Beech, Red Beech, Ridge Beech, Beechnut Tree

Fagus grandifolia (American Beech), a magnificent, huge, deciduous tree with a short trunk and a dense, widely-spreading crown, it is native to eastern North America. It has 5-inch-long (12-cm) ovate to elliptic, coarsely serrated, glossy, dark green leaves that turn rich shades of russet and gold in the fall and last through much of the winter. The thin, silky, silver-gray bark covering the trunk and branches that branches to the ground is particularly stunning in the wintertime scene. Small, yellow-green flowers are visible in the middle to late April. They are followed by bristly fruits that are edible and ripen in the fall. American Beech is a sturdy and imposing tree that makes a great specimen tree or shade tree for a large landscape.