Fagus sylvatica ‘Purple Fountain’ – Purple Fountain Beech

Botanical Name: Fagus sylvatica ‘Purple Fountain’

Alternate Name: Weeping Purple Beech, Purple Fountain Weeping Beech

The Purple Fountain Beech is a cultivar of the European Beech tree, Fagus sylvatica. It is a beautiful, medium sized, columnar deciduous tree which grows in a weeping form. It grows to a height of 25 feet and has a spread of 15 feet.

This variety is probably a natural variation of F. sylvatica ‘Purpurea Pendula’, with lighter colored leaves and a narrower growth habit. It makes a wonderful specimen tree, with its bold, glowing, purple foliage. The Purple Fountain Beech also works great in small landscapes, where it creates a big impact in a small space.

It has attractive smooth gray bark, typical of the Fagus genus. It creates an interesting sculptural addition to the landscape in winter. This beech tree has small, inconspicuous flowers that are yellowish-green, appearing in spring.  They are followed by small fruit (beech nuts) in the fall that are sought after by wildlife.

The leaves of the Purple Fountain Beech emerge in the spring, a deep purple. As the growing season progresses, the leaves become progressively more green and eventually turn a handsome orange-bronze color in fall. The leaves have pronounced venation and wavy margins and are widely elliptical.

This beech tree dislikes being transplanted and will not thrive in wet, poorly drained soils. No serious disease or insect problems.