European beeches (Fagus sylvatica) and copper beeches (Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea) both belong to the beech family. They differ neither in shape nor in care. The only difference is the color of the leaves. This is a whim of nature.

Despite its name, the common beech has green leaves in summer

The red beech has green leaves

Many people think that red beech and copper beech, also known as purple beech, are just different names for the same tree. However, that is not correct.

Despite its name, the copper beech has green leaves! It is only so called because of the slightly reddish wood. The shoots are also slightly red. Both also apply to the copper beech.

In contrast to the copper beech, the copper beech actually has red leaves, which can vary from bright red to reddish brown. There are also copper beeches that have green-red leaves.

Why does the copper beech have red leaves?

The leaves of the copper beech contain a very high proportion of cyanidin, a red pigment. It is significantly higher than the proportion of chlorophyll, which colors the leaves green in beech trees.

Gardening experts assume that the difference in color is caused by a mutation.

The autumn leaves are the same for both beech species

Both copper beeches and red beeches get bright autumn leaves. It turns orange-red in autumn and shines particularly intensely in mid-November.

Both beech species are deciduous. However, many species carry their dried leaves on the tree well into winter, often even until new growth occurs. Because of this, many gardeners mistakenly believe that the trees are evergreen.

Because of their rapid growth and dense foliage, even in winter, copper beeches and copper beeches are often used as hedge plants.

The beech species do not differ in care

They have the same requirements in terms of location and care and can easily be grown next to each other. They also did not differ in terms of:

  • size
  • old
  • growth
  • fruit
  • heyday

The only difference is actually the different colored leaves.

tips

The hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), which is often wrongly counted among the beeches, is a birch family. It is also called hornbeam because of its very light wood.

Category:

Trees