Fagus sylvatica 'Atropunicea'

Common name(s): European Purple Beech, Copper Beech

Family: Fagaceae Synonym(s): Fagus sylvatica 'Atropurpurea', Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea', Fagus sylvatica Atropurpurea Group
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 13th April, 2016 at Ballarat, Victoria
Bark_lower
Bark (Lower)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Leaf
Leaves
Taken by Ken Harrington
Fruit
Fruit
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Plant Properties
Origin(s)
Germany
  • Germany: Cultivar
Plant Type
Deciduous Tree
Deciduous Tree
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Cool
Temperate Cool
Climate Range(s) - Tolerance
Oceanic, Temperate Cool
Oceanic,
Temperate Cool
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light
Sun - Full,
Shade - Dappled,
Shade - Light
Habitat Range(s)
Deciduous Forests-Temperate
Deciduous Forests-Temperate
Habitat Zone(s)
Forest Margins, Flood Plains, Foothills, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Scattered, Understory, Well drained, Wind Protected
Forest Margins,
Flood Plains,
Foothills,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Scattered,
Understory,
Well drained,
Wind Protected
Mature Height
20-25m, 25-30m
20-25m,
25-30m
Mature Width
10-15m
10-15m
Plant Shape
Branches Horizontal
Branches Horizontal
Domed - Narrow
Domed - Narrow
Branches Horizontal Branches Horizontal,
Domed - Narrow Domed - Narrow
Growth Rate
Slow
Slow
Maturity
40-45 yrs, 45-50 yrs
40-45 yrs,
45-50 yrs
Life Span
200-300yrs, 300-400yrs
200-300yrs,
300-400yrs
Leaf Properties
Colour (front)
Purple Dark
Purple Dark
Colour (back)
Purple Dark
Purple Dark
Colour(s) Autumn
Red-brown
Red-brown
Shape(s)
Elliptical
Elliptical
Ovate
Ovate
Elliptical Elliptical,
Ovate Ovate
Aroma
None
None
Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery
Texture (back)
Leathery
Leathery
Leathery Leathery
Leaf Length(s)
90-100mm
90-100mm
Leaf Width(s)
30-40mm, 40-50mm, 50-60mm, 60-70mm
30-40mm,
40-50mm,
50-60mm,
60-70mm
Margin
Crenate
Crenate
Entire
Entire
Undulate
Undulate
Crenate Crenate,
Entire Entire,
Undulate Undulate
Bark / Stem / Culm Properties
Colour(s) Upper
Grey , Grey-brown
Grey,
Grey-brown
Colour(s) Lower
Grey
Grey
Texture(s) Upper
Smooth
Smooth
Smooth Smooth
Trunk / Stem Construction(s)
Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood Fibres / Solid Wood Fibres / Solid
Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section
Terete
Terete
Terete Terete
Trunk / Stem Feature(s)
Bark - Thin , Erect , Trunk-single
Bark - Thin,
Erect,
Trunk-single
Trunk / Stem / Culm Diameter
950mm-1m, 1-1.25m
950mm-1m,
1-1.25m
Flower Properties
Gender: Male
Time(s)
Spring Late - Summer Early
Flower Colour(s)
Yellow-green
Yellow-green
Male and Female Flowers, Borne
On Same Plant
On Same Plant
Gender: Female
Time(s)
Spring Late - Summer Early
Flower Colour(s)
Yellow-green
Yellow-green
Aroma(s)
None
None
Male and Female Flowers, Borne
On Same Plant
On Same Plant
Fruit Properties
Type
Trymosum
Trymosum
Trymosum Trymosum
Capsule - 4 valved
Capsule - 4 valved
Outer Colour(s)
Brown, Red-brown
Brown,
Red-brown
Outer Texture
Spines-Sharp , Spines-Short
Spines-Sharp,
Spines-Short
Aroma
None
None
Season of Fruiting
Autumn
Autumn
Fruit Ripening
5 mths., 6 mths.
5 mths.,
6 mths.
Maturation for Fruiting
10 yrs., 11 yrs., 12 yrs.
10 yrs.,
11 yrs.,
12 yrs.
Root Properties
Type
Plate
Plate
Plate Plate
Shallow
Shallow
Invasiveness
Medium
Medium
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Calcareous, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Calcareous,
Hummus Rich,
Organic Matter
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline
Condition(s)
Damp
Damp
Moist
Moist
Moist - Dry
Moist - Dry
Damp Damp,
Moist Moist,
Moist - Dry Moist - Dry
Fertile , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
None
None
None None
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Watering Requirements
WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy, WR3 - never let soil dry out, WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering
WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy,
WR3 - never let soil dry out,
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Moderate
Moderate
Bird Attraction
Nectar, Habitat
Nectar,
Habitat
Butterfly Attraction
Poor
Poor
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
None
None
Edible(s)
Nuts
Nuts
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
Medium
Medium
Landscape Use
Very Good
Very Good
Maintenance(s)
Pruning - Formative, Pruning - Shaping
Pruning - Formative,
Pruning - Shaping
Pests/Diseases
Aphid, Borers, Canker, Caterpillars, Powdery Mildew, Scale, Sooty Mould, Stem Canker, Thrip
Aphid,
Borers,
Canker,
Caterpillars,
Powdery Mildew,
Scale,
Sooty Mould,
Stem Canker,
Thrip
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Park land, Garden-Modern, Garden-Shade, Garden-Topiary, Fruit-interesting, Garden-Bonsai, Cabinet making, Foliage-Dark Contrasting, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Cottage, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Espalier, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Formal, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Woodland, Hedge-formal, Hedge-informal, Litter Issue - Leaves, Litter Issue - Nuts, Playground Friendly, Sand Binder, Screen, Shade Tolerant, Shade tree-Heavy, Shady Moist, Soil Binder, Specimen, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Cockatoo's, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Parrot's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares
Garden-Park land,
Garden-Modern,
Garden-Shade,
Garden-Topiary,
Fruit-interesting,
Garden-Bonsai,
Cabinet making,
Foliage-Dark Contrasting,
Foliage-interesting,
Garden-Cottage,
Garden-Courtyard,
Garden-Espalier,
Garden-Foliage,
Garden-Formal,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Mediterranean,
Garden-Woodland,
Hedge-formal,
Hedge-informal,
Litter Issue - Leaves,
Litter Issue - Nuts,
Playground Friendly,
Sand Binder,
Screen,
Shade Tolerant,
Shade tree-Heavy,
Shady Moist,
Soil Binder,
Specimen,
Sunny Moist,
Tolerant-Cockatoo's,
Tolerant-Deer,
Tolerant-Kangaroo's,
Tolerant-Parrot's,
Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares
Altitude Range - Tolerance
0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m, 500-600m, 600-700m, 700-800m, 800-900m, 900-1,000m, 1,000-1,250m, 1,250-1,500m, 1,500-1,750m, 1,750-2,000m
0-100m,
100-200m,
200-300m,
300-400m,
400-500m,
500-600m,
600-700m,
700-800m,
800-900m,
900-1,000m,
1,000-1,250m,
1,250-1,500m,
1,500-1,750m,
1,750-2,000m
Fertilising Requirements
FR5, FR6, FR11
FR5,
FR6,
FR11
Wind Tolerance
Moderate Winds
Moderate Winds

General Notes

A striking deciduous tree with deep copper to purple leaves, with light brown to straw coloured leaves held over Winter and only losing its leaves as new leaves start to burst in the Spring. Autumn produces edible Beech nuts, much loved by foraging animals. An excellent shade tree for larger gardens and park land areas. Reported to be the original form of purple leaved beech.

The purple leaved Beech dates back to 15th Century where records show it was a chance forest discovery in Germany. It is assumed that 99% of the purple leaved Beeches in the world are descendents of this Copper Beech. Numerous cultivars of purple leaved Beech's are available.