Copper beech ∗ The 10 best planting and care tips

Characteristics

• Scientific name: Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea
• Mutation of the species: common beech (Fagus sylvatica)
• Family: beech family (Fagaceae)
• Synonym: purple beech
• Occurrence: Europe
• Growth type: deciduous tree
• Growth height: 20 m to 30 m
• Leaf: broadly elliptical, dark red
• Flower: simple, inconspicuous
• Fruits: beechnuts
• Toxicity: slightly toxic
• Use: solitary tree, copper beech hedge, nature garden

growth

the copper beech is a magnificent, genetic variant of the native European beech (Fagus sylvatica) with dark wine-red leaves. Almost all specimens of this popular decorative form go back to the mother blood beech in the Thuringian Possenwald or its legendary '11 sisters', which germinated in the immediate vicinity in 1690. To this day, the descendants are often planted throughout Europe as an imposing hedge or majestic solitary tree. The high esteem of the purple beech is based on this growth:

• growth habit: upright deciduous tree with a rounded, spreading, richly branched crown and red leaves.
• special feature: twigs hanging to the ground when old.
• growth height: 20 m to 30 m, in dense forest areas up to 50 m.
• growth width: 10 m to 20 m, in the wild up to 30 m.
• root: Cardiac roots with shallow, sometimes aggressive lateral roots near the surface.
• growth rate: 20 cm to 50 cm annual increase.
• Horticulturally interesting properties: completely hardy, easy to care for, tolerates pruning, ideal hedge plant, ecologically valuable, slightly poisonous fruits.

Copper beeches can get very old. Planted in the right location, the native trees reach an age of 200 to 300 years.

Sheet

The most beautiful decoration of a copper beech is its dense foliage. Seasonal fluctuations in the red coloring of the leaves create a varied appearance. The following overview summarizes all important leaf characteristics:

• leaf shape: short-stalked, ovate to broadly elliptical, pointed, slightly wavy leaf margin.
• sheet size: 5 cm to 10 cm long, 1 cm to 7 cm wide.
• leaf color: Dark red when shooting, leaves are reddish-green in summer, bright yellow to orange-red in autumn.
• special feature: long adhesion of the brown, dried-up leaves well into winter.

Interesting detail: The natural coloring agent anthocyanins is responsible for the deep red color of the leaves. The young copper beech leaves contain this in high concentrations. In contrast to green-leaved beeches, a certain enzyme is missing that is responsible for the rapid breakdown of the red coloring shortly after budding. As a result, the dye gradually degrades over the course of the year.

copper beech in spring

blossom

The copper beech is a monoecious, separately sexed tree. Male and female flowers can be found on a tree. A copper beech flower can be recognized by the following characteristics:

• heyday: April to May (simultaneously with the budding of the leaves).
• inflorescence: long-stalked, drooping clusters of numerous male or female flowers.
• Flower shape Single flower: bell-shaped
• flower color: yellow-green to reddish
• Distinguishing feature male flower: 4 to 7 long stamens.
• Identifying feature female flower: pink scars.

fruit

Pollinated female flowers turn into brown, hard-skinned fruits, also known as beechnuts. The fruits contain a hydrocyanic acid glycoside. Even small amounts can cause nausea and discomfort in humans. for squirrel, dormouse and other animals of the forest, beechnuts are an important food source.

toxicity

The reference to the weak toxicity primarily refers to the consumption of beechnuts. In addition, the copper beech is friendly to the gardener, because all other parts of the plant are harmless.

use

Every copper beech is a natural treasure and source of life with a representative appearance. More than 300 species of beetles, over 60 species of butterflies and numerous species of birds can be found in the native deciduous trees. In combination with the shapely growth and the impressive leaf color, the purple beech is recommended for these diverse uses:

Plant copper beech

The best time to plant copper beeches is in autumn. This applies equally to use as a solitary plant or as a hedge plant. From August you can buy the most beautiful specimens in the tree nursery as inexpensive rooted goods or ready to plant standard. A second planting window is open in spring during the months of March to April. Here you can find out where and how to properly plant a copper beech as a hedge and solitary tree:

Location

These are all important location preferences of a copper beech:

• sun up penumbra (Sun leaves contain more red pigment than shade leaves).
• normal garden floor, preferably sandy-loamy, fresh-moist, nutritious and calcareous.
• Exclusion criteria: full shade, waterlogging, acidic pH less than 5.

Planting copper beech hedges - tips & tricks

Damp autumn weather is advantageous for the rapid rooting of a copper beech hedge. Stratified Heister with a growth height of 80 cm to 100 cm form the desired privacy factor at an affordable price within a short time. Saving foxes take advantage of special offers that a tree nursery has in autumn. A savings pack of 50 bare-root copper beeches with a growth height of 60 cm to 80 cm is sufficient for a 10 m long hedge and can be bought for 130 to 150 euros. You can read more useful planting tips for an opaque copper beech hedge here:

• Soak roots or potted root balls in water before planting.
• Measure the hedge and mark with stretched strings to ensure it is straight.
• Dig a spacious planting ditch and on the bottom with a soil activator sprinkle.
• Cut off damaged, dead roots on bare-root goods.
• Pull the root ball apart or slightly scratch the potted container goods.
• Planting distance: 3 to 4 specimens per linear meter (potted goods), 4 to 6 specimens per meter (rooted goods).
• Plant pruning: cut back bare-root shrubs by a third for strong branching.

Extra tip: copper beech roots can toppings lift and damage walls. For planting a copper beech hedge, using a rhizome lock to recommend.

Plant copper beech as a tree - short instructions

You can buy a ready-to-plant copper beech as a standard with wire root ball from your trusted tree nursery. Properly planted, the tree is resilient to windthrow, drought stress and other early growth problems. How to properly plant a purple beech as a solitary tree:

1. Dig a planting pit with twice the root ball volume.
2. Recommended: Line the pit with a root barrier.
3. Mix in one-third of the excavated material horn shavings(€9.00 at Amazon*) and compost.
4. Place the copper beech in the middle of the pit and open the bale cloth.
5. Drive in a support pole or tripod and connect it to the trunk.
6. Fill in the excavation and tamp down.
7. Form a casting ring from the remaining excavation and water the tree generously.

As a solitary tree, the copper beech forms a spreading crown with a diameter of 10 to 20 meters over the years. For this reason, a minimum distance to property line recommended from 5 to 10 meters.

digression

copper beech copper beech difference

maintain copper beech

The copper beech is very easy to care for. The focus is on the care of the cut. All other measures follow. Traditionally, purple beeches in the hobby garden are through sowing or cuttings propagated. The best care tips for Fagus sylvatica purpurea to read:

Cut copper beech hedge

The copper beech hedge is just as pruning-tolerant as a classic one beech hedge. For a dense bushy growth comes the hedge trimmer(€23.00 at Amazon*) used twice a year. Read these tips on timing and cutting:

• cutting dates: late winter (mid/late February) and summer (late June/early July).
• Important: Inspect the hedge for wild animals before each cut in order to postpone the appointment if necessary.
• cut circumference: cut back the growth by half since the last cut.
• incision: the hedge trimmer on the sides from bottom to top, cut the hedge crown horizontally.
• hedge shape: Cut copper beech hedges in a trapezoidal shape with a broad base and narrow crown.

Copper beech hedges also sprout again from old wood. This circumstance allows a radical rejuvenation cut between November and February. A step-by-step approach supports regeneration. In the first winter, devote yourself to one long side and one flank. In the second winter, trim the opposite side of the hedge and flank.

Cut solitary tree

As a free-standing solitary tree, the copper beech develops an oval to rounded, finely branched crown. An occasional conservation and thinning cut is advantageous for light-flooded, dense growth. How to cut a purple beech correctly:

1. Cut copper beech every 3 to 4 years.
2. The best time is in February, just before budding.
3. deadwood a string saw off
4. Cut off unfavorable branches that are growing towards the center of the crown and are too long (do not leave stubs).
5. Protruding from the crown shape or strongly drooping Derive branches on a side shoot.

The pruning of mighty, old copper beeches is a case for the competent tree care specialist, as the following video demonstrates:

Copper beech giant gets a shape and thinning cut

Pour

Drought stress is the most common cause when a copper beech does not grow as a hedge or tree. In later years, the richly branched central root system ensures the water supply. How to properly water a purple beech:

• Water plentifully and regularly in the first few weeks after planting.
• Previous finger test avoids the formation of waterlogging.
• Only water well-rooted hedge plants and trees during summer droughts.
• Run normal tap water directly onto the root disc as irrigation water.

Fertilize

With a start fertilization in March you wake up the copper beech from the hibernation. Sprinkle 3 to 5 liters compost soil per square meter on the tree disc. Work in the organic fertilizer between the roots near the surface and water again.

Multiply - sow beechnuts

For propagation by seed you need the beechnuts of a blood beech. The triangular, egg-shaped, 1.5 cm long nuts sit in pairs in prickly fruit capsules. The seeds are cold germs. How to properly sow beechnuts:

1. Store beechnuts in a plastic box or bag with sand in the refrigerator for 8 weeks.
2. After the cold phase, sow in pots with moist potting soil.
3. Water sparingly and not on the partially shaded windowsill fertilize.

Propagating - taking cuttings

Best time for propagating a copper beech by cuttings is in early summer. This procedure has been granted in the hobby garden:

1. Cut off 10 cm to 15 cm long, semi-lignified shoot tips (intersection under a leaf or eye).
2. Defoliate the lower half of the cuttings.
3. Plant 2/3 of each cutting in a partially shaded propagation bed or in a pot with pricking soil.
4. Water regularly until the beginning of the planting season in autumn, from a growth height of 30 cm fertilize with compost.

Popular Varieties

These beautiful, garden-ready copper beech varieties can be discovered in the tree nursery:

• Dawyck Purple: Columnar copper beech, deep red leaves, purple-brown summer foliage, height of growth 8-15 m, spread 1.20-3 m.
• Purple Fountain: Weeping copper beech with hanging branches, black-red leaves and yellow-reddish-brown autumn colour, height of growth 4-8 m, width of growth 2-4 m
• Purpurea Pendula: black-red weeping copper beech, representative solitary tree for the front garden, height of growth 2.50-5 m.
• Fagus sylvatica Atropunicea: grafted copper beech, domed crown, foliage color is dark red to black-red, height of growth up to 25 m.
• Fagus sylvatica Atropurpurea: Premium variety with dark red leaves, good pruning for use as a house tree or hedge plant.

FAQ

What is the name of the beech tree with red leaves?

The beautiful beech with red leaves is called copper beech (Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea). As a genetic variant of the green-leaved common beech (Fagus sylvatica), the copper beech has deep red foliage and is also called purple beech. The phenomenal leaf color can be traced back to a missing enzyme which, in other beeches, breaks down the red pigment anthocyanin immediately after budding.

When is the best time to plant a copper beech hedge?

The best time to plant a copper beech hedge is in autumn. In the tree nursery, the hedge plants are in a field, waiting for the perfect time to harvest after the leaves have fallen. Copper beeches and other hedge plants should only be transplanted in the hibernation period, otherwise they will not grow well. The knowledgeable nursery master therefore waits with the harvest until the leaves turn color and fall off.

Can I also plant a copper beech as a solitary tree in summer?

You can plant a copper beech in containers or pots at any time of the year. In order for the tree to grow well, the ground must not be frozen or completely dry. The best time to plant is during the leafless period between mid-October and early/mid-April. If you plant outside of this time window, an adequate water supply is strongly recommended.

We would like to transplant a 5 year old copper beech hedge. Is that possible?

You can transplant a copper beech hedge within the first five years. So that the hedge plants can cope with the change of location, choose a date during the leafless season. At the new location, prepare a planting trench with fresh compost soil in front. Because a large amount of root mass is lost when transplanting, cut the copper beech hedge back by half afterwards.