About Fagus sylvatica Atropunicea
Red beech is a colour variety of common beech distinguished by its dark red to purple leaves. This imposing tree is among the most beautiful deciduous trees and combines the elegant growth habit of the beech with a striking leaf colour. Its growth form is broad-kernel shaped with a strong, straight trunk and wide-spreading crown. Branching is fine and regular, creating a dense crown.
The trunk is straight and vigorous with a smooth, grey bark characteristic of all beeches. This smooth, elephant-grey bark remains relatively smooth even on older trees and is highly decorative. The branches branch finely and regularly, with the lower branches often reaching down to the ground if the tree grows free-standing.
The leaves are the great distinguishing feature: in spring, the leaves appear in a beautiful dark red, almost purple. These young leaves have a silky sheen. In summer, the colour becomes slightly duller and changes to dark red to bronze green, depending on the amount of light. In full sun, the leaf remains darker red, in shade it turns more greenish. In autumn, the leaves turn copper-brown before falling. The dead leaves often remain on the branches for a long time, especially on young trees, giving a reddish-brown screen in winter.
Flowering in April-May is inconspicuous with small, drooping flowers. After flowering, beechnuts develop in prickly husks. These nuts are edible and used to be eaten, but they also contain substances that are not healthy in large quantities.
Red beech grows moderately fast to fast, at 30-50 cm per year in its young stage. The tree can grow very large, up to 25-30 metres tall with an equally wide crown. Its imposing size and beautiful leaf colour make the red beech one of the most impressive park trees. The tree can grow very old and develops an increasingly distinctive shape over the years.
Application and location
Red beech is ideally suited as a solitary tree in large gardens, parks and estates. Due to its imposing size and beautiful leaf colour, this tree demands a prominent place. It is also very suitable for avenue planting and as a colour accent between green trees. For hedge planting, the red beech is less suitable than the green variety.
Plant the tree in full sun for the best leaf colour. In too much shade, the leaves become more greenish. Red Beech grows in almost all soil types, from clay to sand, but prefers moist, nutrient-rich soil. Excellent hardiness down to -25°C. The tree tolerates wind reasonably well, but a sheltered spot gives nicer leaf colour.
Give the tree plenty of space: at least 15-20 metres in diameter. Pruning is not necessary. Note that this tree grows very large and provides a lot of shade. For those with space and looking for a spectacular colour tree, this is a top choice. The tree is suitable for large gardens and park-like settings.
Do you already know exactly what you need?
Every garden and every greenery project is different. Therefore, at Smits Arboriculture we do not make standard quotations, but we like to look together at what suits your wishes, planning and the character of the project.
