When landscaping, it is essential to know and understand the various trees used to make a home look better, as well as trees that provide good insulation against the cold during the winter, and excellent protection against the hot sun in the summer. A beech tree is a good choice for most homes in North America. This species of tree is actually native to Asia and Europe as well as North America, and produces an edible nut. Most beech trees are considered ornamental, which means they add style and beauty to any landscaping project or home. The wood makes an excellent choice for firewood, and has been a commonly used element in making fires in Europe for centuries.
Originally, the beech tree was native to England, but migrated its way across Europe and into Asia, and eventually into the United States and Canada. There are several different species of beech tree that exist today. The nuts from beech trees actually provided a commodity for Europe during World War II since their oil was considered a tangible item for trade at that time. The trees produce beautiful golden and orange hues in the fall, making them a wonderful choice for home decoration. In the spring, it blooms with beautiful yellow flowers. A great feature of the beech tree is that it needs little watering and is a hearty tree that can withstand extreme temperatures, which explains why it is such a common tree in so many states in the U.S. At maturity, the trees can reach sixty feet tall. Their branches usually stay low, so they provide excellent shade.
The nut produced by this tree is also commonly known as a “beechnut” and provides food to many animals including squirrels, deer, raccoons, and other small mammals. Humans can eat beechnuts, but eating too many at once has been known to cause sickness is some people. They are prone to aphids and something called bark disease, two things gardeners should be aware of when caring for them. These trees are lovely to look at and change with each varying season. They are so valued that even famous painter Gustav Klimt created a painting entitled “Forest of Beech Trees.” They have often been the source of inspiration for photographs, poems, and paintings. With their lovely bright fall hues and abundant fruit, these lovely trees make an excellent choice for any garden or front yard.
