Rivers Purple/Copper Beech

Renowned for possessing the darkest and most enduring foliage of all copper beeches, Fagus sylvatica Riversii is a magnificent deciduous specimen that commands attention in any large landscape. Unfurling in mid-Spring, the large, glossy leaves emerging in shades of rose-pink and copper-crimson before deepening crimson before maturing to an almost black-purple that refuses to fade to dull bronze during the heat of Summer. In Autumn, the canopy ignites into hues of coppery amber and burnished gold before shedding to reveal a muscular framework clad in smooth, elephant-grey bark that catches low Winter light. While ultimately growing into an imposing, broad-crowned parkland tree, it is remarkably amenable to regular trimming and can be clipped into an impenetrable, richly coloured formal hedge that retains its dried bronze leaves through the colder months.

Site: Tolerates inland exposure
Soil: Any fertile, well-drained soil; particularly thrives on alkaline chalk, limestone, and light loams; intolerant of heavy waterlogged clay or compacted ground
Position: Full sun for best leaf colour
Season of Interest: Deep purple-black foliage from mid-Spring through Summer, coppery amber tones in Autumn, and smooth silvery bark in Winter
Hardiness: Fully Hardy
Height: Height: 50-65ft (15-20m) Spread: 40-50ft (12-15m) over 20-50 years

Image 1 by Liné1 cropped, and licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 license
Image 2 by Plant Image Library cropped, and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0