Common Name: American Beech
Latin Name: Fagus grandifolia
Address: Washington Park, 1001 Preston Ave.
Coordinates: 38.0409469,-78.492736
The formal and stately American beech holds a special place in many hearts. The wide-spreading canopy provides great shade in the summer and beautiful bronze coloring in the fall. It is a versatile tree, often used in parks, golf courses, and acreages. While not a fast grower, this tree is a lovely legacy for future generations. It features smooth, silvery-gray bark and produces beechnuts that are an important food for wildlife.
This tree is in lower Washington Park near The Albemarle Garden Club Bog Garden. The Albemarle Garden Club works with students from nearby Burley Middle School as part of the Burley Restoration Initiative. This project features educational programs for local youth to learn about native wetland flora and fauna
Washington Park was Charlottesville’s first Black public park. It is one of the few centrally located city parks with a racially and economically diverse surrounding community. Here is a video of the Garden Club talking about the Bog Garden in which they feature the beech tree.