Fagus sylvatica ‘Rivers Purple’ – 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.

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

Description

Height: 50-60 ft.
Width: 40-50 ft.
Shape: Rounded, Oval
Flower Color: Yellowish-Green
Flowering Time: March-May
Fall Color: Copper
Features: Attractive foliage color, good fall color
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Watering: Moderate & Regular
Soil: Prefers rich, moist, and well-drained soils. Tolerant of a wide range of soil pH and soil types, as long as drainage is good.
Growth Rate: Slow
USDA Zones: 4-7
Uses: Specimen tree, shade tree, lawn tree, park tree
Similar Trees: American Beech Tree (Fagus grandifolia), European Beech (Fagus sylvatica), Dawyck Purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple’), Purple Fountain Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Purple Fountain’), Red Obelisk Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Red Obelisk’), Tricolor European Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Roseomarginata’)

Additional information

Shape

Oval, Rounded

Flower Color

Green, Yellow

Flowering Time

April, March, May

Fall Color

Copper

Growth Rate

Slow

Uses

Lawn Tree, Park Tree, Shade Tree, Specimen Tree

USDA Zones

4, 5, 6, 7

Mature Height

50'+

Mature Width

40'+

Exposure

Full Sun, Partial Shade

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