Are the Leaves of the Copper Beech Tree Always Copper-Colored?

Copper beech trees look more coppery in spring as leaves unfurl.

From a gardener's standpoint, any purple-leaved selection of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) is colloquially known as a copper beech or purple beech. The color suggested by the common name comes from the coppery hues in the oval-shaped leaves, which vary across the seasons. Originally, copper beeches grew in their native Europe, but today they are grown as shade trees across temperate regions, correlating to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4b through 7.

Seasonal Coloration

All copper beech tree leaves emerge in mid- to late spring with a highly glossy, coppery pink to red color. Later, as the leaves grow to mature size by late spring, the leaves become a deeper coppery red to red-purple, some almost purple-black, depending on the cultivar. The most intense purple leaf color occurs in very early summer. Close inspection of the mature leaves may still reveal a metallic sheen on some leaves. In the fall, the leaves turn a blended shade of golden orange and copper. Color is subjective. Some may describe it as copper, while others refer to it as bronze or simply a rusty luster.

Considerations

Copper beech trees grow best in cold winter regions with a cool to warm summer, where no more than 90 days with above 86 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures occur. In regions with hot summers, the foliage on copper beech trees may modify from dark purple to more purplish-green. Generally speaking, purple-leaf cultivars are the least tolerant to hot summers, according to Floridata. Likewise, if leaves are shaded, such as on lower and interior branches, the purple color is dulled and looks more dark green.

Types

Names of cultivars of copper beeches include Riversii, Rohanii, Spaethiana, Purple Fountain, Dawyck Purple and Purpurea Pendula. Horticulturists selected these forms of copper beech since they displayed a more ornamental leaf color or shape, plant sillhouette or overall mature plant size compared to wild copper beech trees. Cultivars are clones and are propagated by cuttings to preserve the distinct genes that display these more ornamental features.

Growing Requirements

Besides ample sunlight, copper beech prospers in any fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Keeping the roots evenly cool and moist over summer is important, so a 3- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch spread well beyond the branch tips benefits the tree. Avoid trampling the root zone with pedestrian and vehicle traffic, which destroys the many fine, surface-dwelling roots.

References

• University of Connecticut: Fagus Sylvatica
• "A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants"; Christopher Brickell and H. Marc Cathey, eds.; 2004
• Floridata: Fagus Sylvaticus

Resources

• Learn2Grow: Fagus Sylvatica forma Purpurea
• Coenosium Gardens: Cultivars of European Beech