Chinese Beech is a flowering, deciduous tree, usually multi-stemmed, though populations of single-stemmed trees are known in its native China. The Chinese Beech has alternate, simple toothed leaves with 1 tooth for each secondary vein. The flowers are small and inconspicuous and the fruit is a 3-angled nut inside of a weakly spiny husk. The tree is slow to mature in cool locations, but can reach an eventual height of 70 feet. Chinese Beech does best planted in well-drained fertile soils in full sun to partial shade. Young trees are shade tolerant, but subject to frost damage and it is best to provide them protection from winter winds. This is a moderate sized tree with a light branching structure and dainty leaves, which have been described as ‘sea-green’ on account of their glaucous undersides when young. As the tree matures, the leaves will turn yellow-bronze in autumn. These trees are suitable as a shade tree for homes, parks, libraries, and other municipal spaces. The are typically found in forests or natural area in rich woods, but are most often used as a cultivated tree in an urban landscape. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests. More information on Fagus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in. | Width: 45 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Multi-stemmed; Rounded; Vase
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Dentate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Four inch alternate, simple leaves. Glabrous except for long silky hairs on veins below, lateral veins in 9–14 pairs.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Insignificant
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The female flowers in April and May are borne in pairs; the male flowers are borne in wind-pollinated catkins in spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit detail
A 3-angled nut inside of a weakly spiny husk. The fruit, known as beechnuts or mast, drop in autumn. They are small, roughly triangular and edible, usually with a bitter taste.
Bark color
Light Gray
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central and South East China
Distribution
Western Europe and North America
Wildlife value
Fruits are eaten by mammals and birds.
Attracts
Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Leaves; Nuts
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Nut
Edibility
Nutmeats, in small quantities, are edible raw or cooked. Young leaves can be cooked for greens in the spring.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Nuts are pressed for oils. The wood is used in construction and for firewood.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Children's Garden; Cottage Garden; English Garden; Shade Garden