American Beech

Fagus grandifolia

Strong

Native to West Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 100%

Height: 60–80 feet
Spread: 40–80 feet
Light: Dappled sunlight, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Usually moist

Space about 30 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count

Will it fit your yard?

Fagus grandifolia — foliage photograph — Bruce Marlin · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Original photograph

At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: Mid spring
Fruiting season: Summer to fall

Recorded in 24 West Virginia counties.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in West Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 97 animals.

Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Lincoln's Sparrow
Melospiza lincolnii
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostra
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Willow Flycatcher
Empidonax traillii
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Wilson's Snipe
Gallinago delicata
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Nyctanassa violacea
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Yellow-throated Warbler
Dendroica dominica
Birds. 2 shared habitats
American Coot
Fulica americana
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Bank Swallow
Riparia riparia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Canvasback
Aythya valisineria
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Fish Crow
Corvus ossifragus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Gadwall
Anas strepera
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Least Bittern
Ixobrychus exilis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Pine Warbler
Dendroica pinus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Rough-legged Hawk
Buteo lagopus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Snowy Owl
Bubo scandiacus
Birds. 1 shared habitat

Widespread birds also seen here (49)

Found in many habitats here, so not listed above.

All wildlife of West Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

133CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Fagus

Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
Acleris chalybeanaLesser Maple Leafroller Moth
Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
Acronicta incretaSouthern Oak Dagger, Eclipsed Oak Dagger, Small Oak Dagger
Acronicta ovataOvate Dagger, Epauleted Oak Dagger
Acronicta tristisSad Dagger
Actias lunaLuna Moth
Adoneta spinuloidesPurple-Crested Slug
Agnorisma badinodisPale-Banded Dart

Show all 133

Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
Amorpha juglandisWalnut Sphinx
Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
Anisota senatoriaOrange-Tipped Oakworm Moth, Orangestriped Oakworm
Anisota virginiensisPink-striped Oakworm Moth
Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
Apoda biguttataShagreened Slug Moth
Apoda y-inversumYellow-Collared Slug Moth
Automeris ioIo Moth
Baileya dormitansSleeping Baileya
Baileya ophthalmicaEyed Baileya
Besma quercivorariaOak Besma
Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
Catastega aceriellaMaple Trumpet Skeletonizer
Cecrita biundataWavy-Lined Heterocampa
Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
Cenopis diluticostanaSpring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
Ceratomia amyntorElm Sphinx
Charadra deridensThe Laugher
Chionodes fuscomaculellaWhite-Spotted Chionodes
Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
Choristoneura fractivittanaBroken-Banded Leafroller, Lined Corn-Borer Moth
Choristoneura fumiferanaSpruce Budworm Moth
Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
Colocasia flavicornisYellowhorn, Saddled Yellowhorn
Colocasia propinquilineaClosebanded Yellowhorn
Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
Cydia latiferreanaFilbertworm
Dasychira dorsipennataSharp-Lined Tussock Moth
Dasychira obliquataStreaked Tussock Moth
Dasychira vagansVariable Tussock Moth
Dasylophia thyatiroidesGray-Patched Prominent
Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
Dryocampa rubicundaRosy Maple Moth, Green-Striped Mapleworm, Rosy Dryocampa
Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
Erora laetaEarly Hairstreak
Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
Hyperstrotia pervertensDotted Graylet
Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
Ianassa lignicolorWhite-Streaked Prominent
Isa textulaCrowned Slug
Isochaetes beutenmuelleriSpun Glass Slug
Lambdina fervidariaCurve-Lined Looper Moth
Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
Limenitis arthemisBanded Purple, Red-Spotted Admiral
Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
Lochmaeus bilineataDouble-Lined Prominent
Lochmaeus manteoVariable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
Lophocampa maculataSpotted Tussock Moth, Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth
Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
Macrurocampa marthesiaMottled Prominent
Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
Meganola phyllaTwo-Spotted Oak Punkie, Coastal Plain Meganola
Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
Morrisonia latexFluid Arches, Fluid Mamestra
Nadata gibbosaWhite-Dotted Prominent
Natada nasoniNason's Slug Moth
Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
Neurobathra strigifinitellaFinite-Channeled Leafminer
Oedemasia leptinoidesBlack-Blotched Schizura
Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
Olethreutes appendiceumServiceberry Leafroller
Oneida lunulalisOrange-Tufted Oneida
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
Orthosia revictaSubdued Quaker
Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
Packardia elegansElegant Tailed Slug
Packardia geminataJeweled Tail Slug Moth
Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
Pandemis lamprosanaWoodgrain Leafroller
Panopoda rufimargoRed-Lined Panopoda
Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
Paraclemensia acerifoliellaMaple Leafcutter, Maple Case-Bearer
Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
Peridea angulosaAngulose Prominent
Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
Phobetron pitheciumHag Moth, Monkey Slug
Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
Plagodis alcoolariaHollow-Spotted Plagodis
Plagodis fervidariaFervid Plagodis
Plagodis pulverariaAmerican Barred Umber, Barred Umber
Plagodis serinariaLemon Plagodis
Pococera asperatellaMaple Webworm
Probole alienariaDogwood Probole, Alien Probole
Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
Psilocorsis cryptolechiellaBlack-Fringed Leaftier
Psilocorsis quercicellaOak Leaftier
Psilocorsis reflexellaDotted Leaftier Moth
Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
Selenia kentariaKent's Geometer
Sparganothis unifascianaOne-Lined Sparganothis
Symmerista albifronsWhite-Headed Prominent
Symmerista canicostaRed-Humped Oakworm
Symmerista leucitysOrange-Humped Mapleworm
Synanthedon scitulaDogwood Borer, Pecan Borer
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
Tortricidia pallidaRed-Cross Button Slug
Tortricidia testaceaEarly Button Slug
Venusia comptariaBrown-Shaded Carpet
Zale minereaColorful Zale
Zanclognatha cruralisEarly Zanclognatha, Early Fan-Foot
Bucculatrix packardella
Olethreutes fagigemmeana
Trypanisma prudens

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

1BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Fagus

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0

0Specialist beesPollen specialists

3BirdsRecorded eating Fagus in West Virginia

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Birds whose range includes West Virginia, most records first.

Ruffed GrouseBuds and fruit. 5 diet records
Wild TurkeySeeds and flowers. 2 diet records
Rose-breasted GrosbeakFlowers. 1 diet record

Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab)

Direct food only. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Birds that eat Fagus 3

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab), CC0 1.0.

Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus
Buds and fruit. 5 diet records
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Seeds and flowers. 2 diet records
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Flowers. 1 diet record

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Fagaceae
Hardiness: Zones 3a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline
Flower color: Green or white
Growth rate: Slow
Growth habit: Single stem
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Summer
Fruit ends: Fall

What its natural habitat tells you

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “Mid spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Flower color · “Green or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Fall” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Single stem” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Slow” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 3a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “60–80 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Dappled sunlight (shade through upper canopy all day); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia DCR Piedmont, Virginia DCR Coastal Plain differ)
Soil · “Moist” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia DCR Piedmont, Virginia DCR Coastal Plain differ)
Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “40–80 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Conservation status

West Virginia rank	S5
Global rank	G5
WV status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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How to check your spot

American Beech

At a glance

Also found with this plant

Who uses this plant?

Birds that eat Fagus 3

Plant details

Conservation status

Will it fit your yard?

Sources

More Fagus