If you’re planning on planting a Copper Beech (also known as a Purple Beech), you’re going to need a little bit of patience! Generally, you’ll be waiting 30 to 40 years before this tree shows off its very first blooms. To be honest, the flowers are pretty delicate and subtle, so they aren’t exactly the main event when it comes to landscaping. In fact, if you’re growing your Copper Beech as a hedge, you likely won’t see any flowers at all.
Bloom time starts right with the new leaves
As the Copper Beech begins to leaf out in the spring—showing off those famous deep red leaves—the modest flowers start to make their appearance. The blooming window usually kicks off in mid-April and doesn’t last very long. The flower heads are tiny, slightly pointed, and have a soft reddish tint to them.
By autumn, those pollinated flowers turn into fruit: prickly husks that hold two to four beechnuts each. However, if you’re planting a Copper Beech hedge, don’t expect a harvest. Because of regular pruning, most of the flowering sites get trimmed away, which also means you won’t be able to collect seeds for propagation from your hedge.
Leaves that glow like copper
When the leaves first emerge, they have a stunning, fiery copper glow. As they mature, they shift into a glossy Bordeaux or even a deep black-red. This unique color comes from special enzymes that prevent the red pigments in the leaves from breaking down.
Here is how you can identify a Copper Beech by its foliage:
- The leaf shape is identical to the European Green Beech.
- The leaves are oval-shaped and come to a point.
- They feature a distinct wavy margin (edge).
The Copper Beech is a true garden giant
When planted as a standalone specimen, the Purple Beech grows into a massive, majestic tree. It’s not uncommon for them to reach heights and widths of up to 100 feet! Their silver-gray branches are a standout feature, growing horizontally to form a wide, rounded canopy. As the tree ages, those gray-brown branches often arch gracefully toward the ground, especially if the trunk is on the shorter side.
With a growth rate of about 15 to 20 inches per year, the Copper Beech is considered a fast-growing deciduous tree. Plus, it handles pruning like a champ—as long as you don’t cut back into the old wood. These traits make it an absolutely ideal choice for a privacy hedge.
