The American beech (
Fagus grandifolia) is our shade tree of the week. The two American beeches in the arboretum collection were donated by Jack Price and planted in September 1988. They provide ample shade for the gravel pathway that runs along the brick wall near Hamilton Hall. This is a particularly shady spot of the arboretum, as there are several massive on-site natives trees. The photos below were taken shortly after noon on a partly cloudy day.
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| The gravel pathway running parallel to the brick wall is shaded by two American beeches (Fagus grandifolia). A very large loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) separates the beeches, with a water oak (Quercus nigra) in the background, closer to the wall.The photos below are of the beech on the right side of the photograph. |
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| The two American beeches in the collection are planted at the top of a slope. The noon sun is lighting up the grass on the opposite side of the gravel path. |
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| Fagus grandifolia provides dense shade, making it difficult for anything to grow underneath it. |
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| The dark green foliage of Fagus grandifolia. |
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| An abandoned exoskeleton clings to a twig of the Fagus grandifolia. The underside of the leaves shows a characteristic vein pattern. |
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| Not much light shines through the dense leaf layers. |
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| The thin papery bark seems to show every little nick or scrape. |
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| Shallow roots of Fagus grandifolia make it difficult to mow, but luckily not much grows to necessitate mowing. |
You can find more pictures of the arboretum's American beeches
here.
For more information about this species consult the following:
Louisiana Plant Identification and Interactive Virtual Tours (LSU AgCenter)
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
United States Department of Agriculture
