Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea'
Common name: 
Purpleleaf European Beech,
Copperleaf European Beech
Pronunciation: 
FA-gus sil-VAT-i-ka
Family: 
Fagaceae
Genus: 
Fagus
Synonyms: 
‘Atropurpurea’,
‘Cuprea’
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Purple leaf clone of Fagus sylvatica.  Upon emergence, leaves are very purple but they become more green during the growing season.  The purple leaf characteristic has been found several times in the wild and there are several purple leaf cultivars.  The leaves of 'Cuprea', Copper Beech, are reportedly somewhat paler than those of the true Purple Beech (Dirr, 1998, p. 371).
  • Corvallis: Cental Park
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: On Orchard St., north side of Withycombe parking lot.
Click image to enlarge
  • flowers and emerging leaves, spring

    flowers and emerging leaves, spring

  • plant habit, spring

    plant habit, spring

  • comparison of leaves in May

    comparison of leaves in May

  • leaves and fruit, May

    leaves and fruit, May

  • leaves, August

    leaves, August

  • comparison of leaves in August

    comparison of leaves in August

  • Copper Beech, fall

    Copper Beech, fall