Fagus Syl. Purple Fountain 18 Litre Pot 200-225cm

Purple Fountain Beech

Striking Weeping Form with Rich Purple Foliage – A True Garden Focal Point

Purple Fountain Beech (Fagus sylvatica 'Purple Fountain') is an exceptional ornamental tree that combines a narrow, strongly weeping habit with the deep, lustrous purple foliage of copper beech. Slender and elegant, its arching branches cascade gracefully downwards, creating a curtain of rich purple-burgundy leaves from spring through summer. As autumn arrives, the foliage shifts to warm copper and bronze tones before the dried leaves cling to the branches well into winter, maintaining presence and interest even in the colder months. Whether used as a specimen tree in a lawn, as a dramatic focal point in a border, or to add vertical structure to a planting scheme, Purple Fountain Beech delivers year-round beauty in a surprisingly compact footprint.

Key Features

• Foliage: Deep purple-burgundy in spring and summer, copper-bronze in autumn, with persistent winter leaf retention

• Habit: Narrowly upright with strongly pendulous, cascading branches – columnar yet weeping

• Form: Elegant focal point or specimen tree; much narrower than standard copper beech

• Hardiness: Fully hardy throughout the UK

• Wildlife Value: Provides shelter and habitat; foliage browsed by insects

Perfect For

• Specimen planting in lawns, courtyards, and formal gardens

• Adding bold colour and vertical interest to mixed borders

• Smaller gardens where a full-spreading beech would be impractical

• Creating dramatic contrast alongside green-foliaged trees and shrubs

• Avenue or paired planting for symmetrical, formal effect

Growing Conditions

• Position: Full sun to partial shade; best purple leaf colour is achieved in a sunny, open position

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil; tolerates chalk, loam, and sandy soils but dislikes heavy, waterlogged ground

• Shelter: Reasonably tolerant of exposed positions once established, though young trees benefit from some shelter from harsh winds

• Aspect: Suits most aspects; south or west-facing positions will bring out the richest foliage tones

Care & Pruning

• Watering: Water regularly throughout the first growing season until fully established; mature trees are largely drought-tolerant

• Feeding: Apply a balanced general-purpose fertiliser in spring to encourage healthy growth and rich foliage colour

• Pruning: Minimal pruning is required – remove any crossing, damaged, or wayward branches in late winter while the tree is dormant

• Staking: Stake young trees at planting and check ties regularly to prevent wind rock during establishment

• Mulching: Apply a mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the base each spring to retain moisture and suppress weeds

Tip: Resist heavy pruning – the natural weeping form of Purple Fountain Beech is its greatest asset, and the tree is best allowed to develop its graceful cascading silhouette with minimal intervention.