River’s Purple Beech

Botanical Name: Fagus sylvatica ‘Rivers Purple’

Alternate Name: Fagus sylvatica ‘Riversii’, Purple European Beech, River’s Purple European Beech

The River’s Purple Beech is a cultivar of the European Beech tree, Fagus sylvatica. It has a beautiful, open growth habit with branches that are upright but droop down gracefully at the ends. The foliage is a deep, rich purple.

Fagus sylvatica ‘Rivers Purple’ or Fagus sylvatica ‘Riversii’ makes a focal point tree for larger landscapes. It can be planted as a lawn or park specimen tree where it can provide shade, and its beauty can be appreciated. This tree grows to a height of 40-50 feet and has a spread of 50-60 feet. It can live to be 100 years old.

Typical of beech trees, the River’s Purple Beech has beautiful, smooth gray bark. It provides a majestic winter silhouette, bringing structure to dormant landscapes.

The leaves emerge in the spring, unfolding shiny and deep purple in color. As spring turns to summer, they become increasingly green but still keep some purple shades to them. The foliage has prominent veins and are an oval or elliptical shape with serrated margins. The fall color is a show-stopping, beautiful bright copper-bronze color.

Rivers Purple Beech will not thrive in wet, poorly drained soils. It can be difficult to transplant. No serious disease or insect problems.