Purple Beech
Fagus sylvatica 'Atropunicea'
Height: 60 feet
Spread: 45 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 6a
Other Names: Red Beech, Common Beech, European Beech
Description:
An incredible accent tree with deep purple-green foliage throughout the season, a most stately specimen; quite particular about growing conditions, requires rich soil and significant moisture, give it lots of room to grow and look its best
Ornamental Features
Purple Beech is primarily valued in the landscape for its decidedly oval form. It has attractive deep purple deciduous foliage which emerges coppery-bronze in spring. The serrated pointy leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding coppery-bronze in the fall. The smooth silver bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.
Landscape Attributes
Purple Beech is a dense deciduous tree with a shapely oval form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Purple Beech is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Shade
Planting & Growing
Purple Beech will grow to be about 60 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 45 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 120 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!
This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
