Purpleleaf Beech is a large deciduous tree with a broad pyramidal to rounded crown. Its foliage emerges a deep purple to purple bronze that slowly greens and turns bronze-red to copper in fall. Grows best in deep, rich. moist soils. Drought tolerant once established.
Syn. with ‘Atropurpurea’, ‘Cuprea’.
Type: |
Tree |
Origins: |
Europe and Caucasus |
Height: |
60’ - 80’ |
Spread: |
40’ - 60’ |
Spacing: |
50’ |
USDA Hardiness Zone: |
5 - 7 |
Culture: |
Full Sun, Part Sun |
Bloom Color: |
Green |
Season of Interest: |
Multi-Seasonal |
MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance. No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for aphids, Beech Scale, Japanese beetles and caterpillars. Distressed trees may be attacked by borers. Beech bark disease, canker and powdery mildew may occur. NOTE: do not plant near pavement, as the roots may damage it.
LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Naturalized Areas, and Urban Gardens.
COMPANION PLANTS: Sugar Maple, Lady Fern, Woodland Phlox
IMAGES: Alan Deumer, A gorgeous Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica 'purpurea'), (2) H. Zell, Fagus sylvatica purpurea 002, CC BY-SA 3.0, (3) Krzysztof Golik, Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea' in Christchurch Botanic Gardens 02, CC BY-SA 4.0, (4) Kolforn (Wikimedia), -2021-07-31 Copper Beech tree (Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea'), Trunch, Norfolk, England, CC BY-SA 4.0, (5) Tortuosa, FagPurpurLeavesJune04, CC BY-SA 3.0, (6) Mykola Swarnyk, Fagus sylvatica Purpurea James Gardens 2, CC BY-SA 3.0
*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.