Beech, Purple Fountain Fagus sylvatica 'Purple Fountain' Height: 12 feet Spread: 3 feet
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Hardiness Zone: 5a Other Names: Common Beech, European Beech Description: An incredible accent tree with cascading branches; glossy burgundy leaves in spring turn to green; leaves are coppery in fall; a most stately specimen;particular about growing conditions, requires rich soil and moisture; needs wind protection. Ornamental Features Beech, Purple Fountain is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its rigidly columnar form. It has attractive deep purple deciduous foliage which emerges burgundy in spring. 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 Beech, Purple Fountain is a deciduous tree with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. 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. Beech, Purple Fountain is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Beech, Purple Fountain will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and should not be planted underneath 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. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. 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.
