Copper beech 'Purpurea' is a large deciduous tree in the Fagaceae (beech) family and is native to Europe. This tree can grow 60-80 feet tall and 40-60 feet wide with a rounded to pyramidal crown. The leaves start out in spring purple but become green in the summer. Fall color is yellow to copper. The fall nuts are edibles by humans and wildlife. Purple Beach does best planted in fertile well-drained moist soil in full sun to part shade. It doesn't tolerate wet soils. Use this tree as a specimen or shade tree. They do not like to be transplanted or crowded so give it plenty of room. The branches tend to grow tangled and cross each other so some pruning is helpful. Use this tree as a specimen, shade tree, hedge or for screening. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No major problems but planted in a too wet environment they are prone to fungal diseases. Watch for aphids and powdery mildew and leaf spot. VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
24-60 feet; more than 60 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in. | Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 56 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Pyramidal; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Entire; Undulate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2- 4 inch long leaves are purple in the spring and turn green as the season progresses. In fall they are copperish. They are ovate to elliptical in shape with entire to create to undulate margins and parallel veins. Trees tend to hold onto their leaves through winter.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Catkin; Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small catkins in the spring
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit detail
Fruits are triangular nuts with spiny coverings
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
Smooth thin grey bark that can be easily damaged.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Smooth gray to brown stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe
Wildlife value
Mammals and birds eat the fruits
Attracts
Small Mammals
Play value
Wildlife Cover/Habitat; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Nuts
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Nut
Edibility
Nuts are edible
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Woodland
Landscape theme
Edible Garden
Design feature
Screen/Privacy; Shade Tree; Specimen; Street Tree
Garden tags
#edible fruits #large tree #specimen #deciduous tree #green leaves #fall color #shade tree #purple leaves #landscape plant sleuths course #wildlife friendly