Wood: The
wood is strong, heavy, hard and, though not naturally durable, is commercially
important. The wood is used for floors, handles, the bent parts of furniture,
wooden kitchenware, crates, charcoal, pulp and many other products.
Wildlife: Beechnuts are eaten by birds and mammals, especially squirrels and chipmunks. (The photograph shows deer damage to the bark of this species.)
Horticulture: Although an attractive shade tree, the American beech is seldom planted as an ornamental as it cannot tolerate trampling of the soil or common city conditions, and the shallow roots and dense foliage restrict the maintenance of a lawn around the tree.
