Other Names:  Miniature Purple Beech, European Beech

Description:

A wonderful miniature version with very deep purple foliage all season long; has a slower growth rate and smaller ultimate size; quite particular about growing conditions, requires rich soil and steady moisture, perfect for small residential landscapes

Ornamental Features

Dwarf Purple Beech is primarily valued in the landscape for its decidedly oval form. It has attractive burgundy foliage with hints of deep purple. The serrated pointy leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding coppery-bronze in the fall. The smooth silver bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Dwarf Purple Beech is a dense deciduous tree with a shapely oval form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Dwarf Purple Beech is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Dwarf Purple Beech will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 8 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 120 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.