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

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 13th April, 2016 at Ballarat, Victoria

Bark (Lower)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaves

Taken by Ken Harrington

Fruit

Taken by Ken Harrington

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Plant Properties

Origin(s)

Germany

Germany: Cultivar

Plant Type

Deciduous Tree

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

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

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

Plant Shape

Branches Horizontal

Domed - Narrow

Branches Horizontal,

Domed - Narrow

Growth Rate

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

Juvenile Leaf Colour(s) (front)

Red-brown

Juvenile Leaf Colour(s) (back)

Red-brown

Juvenile Leaf Texture (front)

Sericeous

Glabrous

Sericeous,

Glabrous

Juvenile Leaf Texture (back)

Sericeous

Glabrous

Sericeous,

Glabrous

Colour (front)

Purple Dark

Colour (back)

Purple Dark

Colour(s) Autumn

Red-brown

Colour(s) Winter

Yellow Light, Yellow-brown

Yellow Light,

Yellow-brown

Shape(s)

Elliptical

Ovate

Elliptical,

Ovate

Aroma

None

Texture (front)

Glabrous

Leathery

Glabrous,

Leathery

Texture (back)

Leathery

Leaf Length(s)

90-100mm

Leaf Width(s)

30-40mm, 40-50mm, 50-60mm, 60-70mm

30-40mm,

40-50mm,

50-60mm,

60-70mm

Margin

Crenate

Entire

Undulate

Crenate,

Entire,

Undulate

Cross Section(s)

Flat Back-ribbed

Undulate

Flat Back-ribbed,

Undulate

Venation(s)

Pinnate

Main veins 6 , Main veins 7

Main veins 6,

Main veins 7

Arrangement

Alternate & Spiralled

Apice(s)

Acute Broadly

Base(s)

Cuneate

Obtuse

Cuneate,

Obtuse

Attachment

Petiolate

Petiole Length

3-4mm, 4-5mm, 5-7.5mm, 7.5-10mm

3-4mm,

4-5mm,

5-7.5mm,

7.5-10mm

Petiole Cross Section

Terete

Bark / Stem / Culm Properties

Sap Texture

Sticky / Resinous

Branch(lets) Colour

Grey, Grey-brown

Grey,

Grey-brown

Branch(lets) Texture

Smooth

Branch(lets) Cross Section

Terete

Colour(s) Upper

Grey , Grey-brown

Grey,

Grey-brown

Colour(s) Lower

Grey

Texture(s) Upper

Smooth

Textures(s) Lower

Smooth

Trunk / Stem Construction(s)

Wood Fibres / Solid

Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section

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

Attachment

Pedicelate

Pedicel Size (flower stem)

20-25mm

Pedicel Texture

Pubescent

Arrangement(s)

Catkin

Globular

Catkin,

Globular

Pendulous

Male and Female Flowers, Borne

On Same Plant

Gender: Female

Time(s)

Spring Late - Summer Early

Flower Colour(s)

Yellow-green

Aroma(s)

None

Attachment

Pedicelate

Pedicel Texture

Pubescent

Arrangement(s)

Spike

Male and Female Flowers, Borne

On Same Plant

Fruit Properties

Type

Trymosum

Capsule - 4 valved

Shape(s)

Oval

Outer Colour(s)

Brown, Red-brown

Brown,

Red-brown

Outer Texture

Spines-Sharp , Spines-Short

Spines-Sharp,

Spines-Short

Length

15-20mm, 20-25mm

15-20mm,

20-25mm

Width

9-10mm, 10-15mm

9-10mm,

10-15mm

Aroma

None

Season of Fruiting

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.

Seed Properties

Type

Nut

Colour(s)

Brown

Shape(s)

Trigonous

Texture(s)

Hard

Seed Length

10-11mm, 11-12mm, 12-13mm, 13-14mm, 14-15mm, 15-20mm

10-11mm,

11-12mm,

12-13mm,

13-14mm,

14-15mm,

15-20mm

Seed Dispersal

Animals, Gravity

Animals,

Gravity

Seed Number

Root Properties

Type

Plate

Shallow

Texture

Fibrous

Woody

Invasiveness

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

Moist

Moist - Dry

Damp,

Moist,

Moist - Dry

Fertile , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

None

Waterlogging Class

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

Bird Attraction

Nectar, Habitat

Nectar,

Habitat

Butterfly Attraction

Poor

Frog Habitat

None

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Medium

Wood Density

Medium High 600 - 800 kg/c.m.

Coastal

None

Edible(s)

Nuts

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

Medium

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

-34 - -32°C

Smog Tolerant

Good

Landscape Use

Very Good

Street Use

Poor

Commercial Use(s)

Timber - Paper, Horticulture - Amenity, Timber - Cabinet making, furniture, Timber - Carpentry, building, Timber - Carving, Turning, Timber - Firewood, Timber - Veneer, plywood

Timber - Paper,

Horticulture - Amenity,

Timber - Cabinet making, furniture,

Timber - Carpentry, building,

Timber - Carving, Turning,

Timber - Firewood,

Timber - Veneer, plywood

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

Dormancy

Winter

Humidity Requirements

Medium, High

Medium,

High

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

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

Annual Precipitation Range

600mm, 650mm, 700mm, 750mm, 800mm, 850mm, 900mm

600mm,

650mm,

700mm,

750mm,

800mm,

850mm,

900mm

Fertilising Requirements

FR5, FR6, FR11

FR5,

FR6,

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Moderate Winds

Propagation

Hardwood Cuttings

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.

Propagation Notes

Semi-hardwood Cuttings

Flowering

Spring

Cutting

Summer Late, Autumn Early

Material Preparation

Firm wood tip cuttings 75-125m long, depending on the internode length, with 3-5 nodes. Remove bottom leaves from half the length of the cutting. Mist frequently to keep hydrated or drop in a bowl of water.

Propagating Mix

1 part Cocopeat + 1 part Perlite

Treatment

Keep hydrated during prep.. Water 200mm pot of mix and thoroughly wet with Previcur fungicide. Dip bottom length of cutting in Easiroot for 5-10 seconds. Using a dibber, press gently into pot of mix down to the 2nd or 3rd node or at least deep enough for the cutting to stand by itself. Mist frequently while continuing cutting process. Place in coldhouse in bright but indirect light.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock %

Nursery Stock %

Rooting time:- Field Stock weeks

Nursery Stock weeks

200mm pot Mix:- Premium Potting Mix