Rivers Purple

Height: 50 ft
Width: 40 ft
Fall Color: Purple

Rivers Purple

Fagus sylvatica ‘Riversii’

Tree Overview:

The deepest purple foliage of any purple-leafed beech with richly colored foliage that retains its dark purple color throughout the summer months. The Rivers Purple is a magnificent specimen tree for larger landscapes. Not recommended for hot, dry areas.

Height: 50 ft
Width: 40 ft
Fall Color: Purple

Care details

Keep the roots consistently damp (but never soggy) the first 2 to 3 seasons, then water not needed except for drought. Remove lowest limbs as the tree grows to expose the smooth bark. Crossing or excess branches also can be removed mid to late winter.

Leaf/needle description

Ovate to elliptic, lustrous dark green leaves have wavy mostly toothless margins and prominent parallel veins. Foliage turns golden bronze in fall.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions

Monoecious yellowish green flowers bloom in April-May, the male flowers in drooping, long-stemmed, globular clusters and the female flowers in short spikes. Female flowers give way to triangular nuts enclosed by spiny bracts. Beechnuts ripen in fall and are edible.