Fagus sylvatica 'Atropunicea'

Box Head Copper Beech

Purple-leaved form of beech with stunning dark copper-purple foliage throughout summer. Provides excellent seasonal interest and screening.

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The Purple Beech or Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’ is one of the most visually striking trees available for formal garden design. With deep purple spring foliage that softens to copper-bronze through autumn, box head Copper Beech makes for a dramatic and elegant garden feature. The retained copper-brown winter leaves provide year-round colour and screening.

Deciduous — retains copper-brown leaves through winter

Various sizes available

Clear stem with formally clipped, compact crown

Distinctive deep purple to copper foliage

Available in pot or root-ball

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About Box Head Copper Beech – Fagus sylvatica purpurea

The Purple Beech or Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’ is one of the most striking deciduous tree species used for box head training. Distinguished by its deep purple foliage that emerges rich and dark in spring before softening to copper-bronze through autumn, Copper Beech brings a dramatic colour palette to formal garden design.

Box head Copper Beech trees are trained with a clear stem and a formally clipped, compact crown, creating a bold geometric shape that provides a striking contrast to green-leaved plantings. The dense canopy offers excellent screening, and when regularly clipped the copper-brown leaves are retained through winter, giving year-round colour and interest.

Purple Beech grows well in most well-drained soils and tolerates full sun to partial shade. Its tolerance of hard pruning and its ability to regenerate from old wood, combined with that distinctive purple foliage, make it an exceptional choice for gardens and landscapes where colour and structure are equally important.