Fagus grandifolia - American beech

Native to moist or wet lowlands throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic and into the Midwest and New England, this large, long-lived shade tree is somewhat unique in that its pale gray bark remains smooth throughout its lifespan. Its forms a dense, rounded canopy with an architecture that’s striking both in and out of leaf. The fall foliage is a handsome bronze and the beechnuts feed a range of wildlife.  Doug Tallamy in Bringing Nature Home states American Beech "supports over 100 species of Lepidoptera.. --- Beech also shares with the oaks the role of producting high-protein seeds that are critical components of the diet of numerous rodents, black bear, deer, raccoons, and especially large birds like turkey and grouse." Site in full sun to part shade and consistently moist soil. Zones 3–9.