Copper Beech Tree Facts: Learn All About This Deciduous Tree

Siddharth Shirwadkar
Oct 05, 2022 By Siddharth Shirwadkar
Originally Published on Mar 04, 2022
Edited by Daisha Capers
Fact-checked by Sakshi Raturi
The copper beech tree is a vivid burgundy color. Here are some fun copper beech tree facts!

The copper beech tree is one of the most common species of trees.

It is a beautiful tree seen across the continents of America, as well as Europe.

It is known for its beauty and the vivid colors of its leaves.

Copper Beech Tree Classification

Here are some scientific facts about copper beech trees and their classification.

The botanical name that the scientific community has presented for the copper beech trees is the Fagus sylvatica purpurea. This scientific name comes from the other common name for beech trees, purple beech trees, or the Fagus sylvatica belongs to the family of trees that are known as the Beech family, or known as Fagaceae.

This makes up the word for the tree, the Fagus sylvatica. The copper beech tree, or the purple beech tree, is a deciduous tree.

The tree is a native species in Europe, and the European beech is one of the most common beech trees that can be seen across southern Sweden. This range is massive and is known to stretch from southern Sweden to the country of Sicily. It also goes from northwestern Turkey, all the way to the northern regions of Portugal.

What is the copper beech tree known for?

Copper beeches have been around for a long time, and the common beech has been used for as long as they have been planted.

One of the most popular applications to how copper beech trees are the medicinal implications of the common beech. There has been evidence of the beech trees being used in the past for how they would aid in curing and treating ailments.

It was not uncommon for communities to look at using leaves from trees to create herbs. Similar usage was made of copper beech trees.

The bark of common beech trees was used to create a treatment for minor ailments. This would consist of boils, piles, and some other skin complaints. The copper beech tree's bark has astringent properties.

This means that the bark causes the contraction of the skin. This makes it perfect to use to deal with minor skin problems.

Body ailments are not the only thing that the wood of the copper beech tree can be used for. The wood of the copper beech tree can be used as an excellent source of firewood.

The bark of the tree is easy to split and then can be used as firewood. It keeps on burning for hours on end and gives off a flame that burns bright and hot.

The next usage of copper beech trees also comes from the wood that comes from the tree. This wood has been popular among carpenters as well as woodworkers.

This is attributed to the fact that the sturdiness of the wood is rated between medium to high.

These woodworkers can create beautiful pieces of genuine furniture. Additionally, since the color of the wood that comes from the copper beech tree is light in shade, it goes great with any color scheme.

That means that you do not have to worry about buying specific furniture that goes with the color scheme of the room and compromise on the quality of the product that you are buying.

With copper beech tree products, you get a piece of furniture that is firm and sturdy and provides a shade that goes with most color schemes. The wood from a copper beech tree makes for the furniture to give off a very larger-than-life impact on the room that you put them in.

In some cases, the wooden furniture that you purchase gives off a certain kind of odor. This can come off as irritating and can put you off buying it.

This can be seen as the case very often. The wood from the copper beech tree is odorless, which makes it perfect for usage as furniture. This makes it a great choice for furniture in the bedroom, as the furniture has no odor.

Another use of copper beechwood goes back in history. European beech trees were known to be used in past as means of recording information.

When it came to how different civilizations would record the events that transpired in their times, it turned out that the bark of the copper beech trees was utilized. Barks of these trees were seen to be written for the religious text of different Indo-European people.

They were not the only ones who would use copper beech trees. Germanic people would go on to use copper beech, as forests surrounding the region were a natural range of European beeches.

The historic use of the beech tree is important to show how varied the uses of what is sometimes called an ornamental tree are.

The wood from the beech trees is also useful for making handles for sports equipment, in addition to the fact that beech wood makes for great fuel for fires, stylish wooden furniture, as well as different medicines.

Apart from creating products of beech trees, there are products created from the beech tree that can be consumed as food. Beech nuts are a piece of food that is commonly eaten.

In fact, fruit production is one of the primary reasons why copper beech trees are grown, and a bumper crop is seen every four to five years.

It is important to remember that the consumption of too many of these beech nuts can be toxic to the body.

Leaves that grow on the branches of these can also be used in different salads you can eat. Excessive consumption of these raw beech nuts can cause food poisoning, so remember that if you eat these triangular-shaped nuts, do so in moderation.

How to take care of copper beech trees?

You can grow your own beech tree, but here are some tips to remember in order to take care of your tree!

While growing a copper beech tree, it is important to remember that you grow only one tree in the area you plant it in. It is best grown as a simple specimen tree.

The tree itself does not like crowded spaces and does not tend to grow well. Be sure to plant a smaller tree, instead of a mature one, as the younger tree will be more adapting to being planted in a newer area.

Secondly, it is important to understand the condition of the soil. Heavily compacted soil is very unsuitable for growing the copper beech tree.

Well-drained soil is significant for growing a healthy beech tree. When the tree is kept growing in suboptimal soil, it is left more vulnerable to issues such as fungal diseases, indicated by leaf spots, bleeding canker, and powdery mildew.

If cankers are left untreated, they can kill branches. It is crucial to remember that the best cure to the potential diseases that the beech trees can fall prey to is prevention.

Take proper care of your tree by providing it with well-drained soil, as well as keep your eye out for early signs of disease. Look out for leaf spots.

If neglected, these leaf spots can go on to leaf distortion. One possible way of dealing with the disease is by pruning the infected area. If this happens to be the situation, make sure that you sterilize the tools you are going to use to prevent further infection from happening.

It is not uncommon to see trees lose their leaves fall to the ground as we move from spring to autumn, but stay on the tree in a brown shade on the lower branches of the tree. You may trim the hedges just a little bit.

By pruning the branches, you can increase air circulation among the inner branches of the tree.

Although full sunlight is plenty for a copper beech to grow, it can be fatal to the tree, as the bark may be damaged as a result of sunburn. Partial shade can be understood to be the more suitable, as it still provides the tree with plenty of sunlight.

In addition to conditions regarding the sunlight, the atmosphere is as important to the healthy growth of a copper beech tree. It needs a humid atmosphere to grow well.

Lifespan And Physical Features Of Copper Beech Tree

Here are some facts about the different physical features, as well as the lifespan of the beech tree.

Firstly, the leaves of the copper beech tree are commonly seen with deep purple leaves. Deep purple leaves are known to indicate the fact that the tree is in full bloom in the spring.

These purple leaves are not the only color that the leaves have. Springtime also sees a vivid burgundy shade during the spring and sees the foliage of these trees turn into a beautiful shade of copper during the fall.

Interestingly, the leaf surfaces keep the rain that falls from reaching the ground. This makes it incredibly difficult for the grass to grow below the thick foliage of the beech tree.

One of the more interesting colors that are seen is yellow-green. Why this is interesting is due to the fact that these leaves are rarely seen inside the thick foliage of this tree species.

A copper beech tree can grow up to 120 ft (36.5 m). However, the average size of the tree usually stays somewhere within the regions of 50-75 ft (15.2-22.86 m) in height. While 120 ft (36.5 m) is a height that can be attained, the ultimate height that most trees that are grown are 100 ft (30.4 m).

These trees go on to live for quite some time. A copper beech tree lives between 150-200 years of age.

If the tree is managed well as a pollard, it may well go on to live for a period of up to 325 years. This number is not seen commonly, and 225 years are a more common sight to see.

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Sources

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/copper-beech/

https://findingourwayhome.blog/tag/beech-tree/

https://naturewalk.yale.edu/trees/fagaceae/fagus-sylvatica/copper-beech-16

https://ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk/how-to-record/species-guides/beech/

https://organicplantcarellc.com/copper-beech-fagus-sylvatica-purpurea/

https://www.eatweeds.co.uk/beech-fagus-sylvatica

http://www.tree-guide.com/copper-beech

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/copper-beech-trees-34869.html

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Written by Siddharth Shirwadkar

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Multimedia and Mass Communication

Siddharth Shirwadkar picture

Siddharth ShirwadkarBachelor of Arts specializing in Multimedia and Mass Communication

Siddharth is a talented content writer with over a year of experience in content writing, based in Mumbai. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia and Mass Communication from Mithibai College of Arts. With a passion for reading and music, Siddharth has demonstrated his ability to create engaging content that resonates with his audience.

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Fact-checked by Sakshi Raturi

Postgraduate Diploma in Management

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Sakshi RaturiPostgraduate Diploma in Management

Sakshi has experience in marketing strategy, social media planning, and recruiting industry experts for capstone projects, she has displayed a commitment to enhancing their skills and knowledge. She has won multiple awards, including a Certificate of Appreciation for Creative Writing and a Certificate of Merit for Immaculate Turut, and is always seeking new opportunities to grow and develop.

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