The American beech tree is a deciduous plant, belonging to the same family (Fagaceae) that also contains its European (Fagus sylvatica) and Asian (Fagus crenata) cousins. The European is the most popular version in the West, even in North America, due, in part, to its diverse and eye-popping cultivars. But enthusiasts of native plants in North America will want to grow the plant that they have marveled at many a time during their walks through the forest.