European Beech

As the name suggests, the European Beech is native to Europe. It grows more easily under cultivation than the American Beech, and has become a very popular ornamental tree in the United States. It is widely planted as a shade tree in northeastern and Pacific states. Varieties of this tree, also used as ornamentals, include the Copper Beech, , and Weeping Purple Beech. These cultivated varieties often are more popular for landscaping than the European Beech itself. Although massive in its own right, the European Beech is somewhat smaller than our native American Beech. Also, the bark of the European Beech is darker gray than that of our native beech tree. In Europe this tree is an important hardwood. People, as well as livestock and wildlife, eat its nuts.