Trees
Fagus sylvatica 'Purple Fountain'
Purple Fountain beech
Purple Fountain combines a tall, narrow trunk with pendulous branches, creating a distinctly upright weeping beech. Leaves emerge dark purple before softening toward purple-green through summer. When the foliage falls, smooth silver-grey bark and long pointed buds reveal the tree's structure, adding interest beyond the growing season.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade
- Size
- Height: 7–10 m eventual · Width: 2–3 m eventual
- Water
- Moist, well-drained soil
- Hardiness
- USDA zone 5 cold-hardiness rating
Sizes & prices
- B&B 6-7'Purple Fountain European Beech$249.99
Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.
Ask about this plantSelect a section to expand.
Landscape use & tree form
- Use
- Ornamental specimen
- Major issues
- Beech leaf disease threatens American and European beeches. Also watch for beech bark disease, scale and stress-related borers.
- Fruit / litter
- Beechnuts and dry leaves provide seasonal litter; some leaves remain through winter.
- Form
- Narrow upright framework with cascading branches
- Growth rate
- Slow, more restrained than typical European beech.
Resistance & tolerances
- Deer
- Parent-species guidance: Some browsing resistance; not deer-proof. Protect young plants.
- Drought
- Best with steady moisture; hot, dry sites stress foliage and shallow roots.
- Wet soil
- Parent-species guidance: Avoid waterlogged or poorly drained soil.
Resistance is not a guarantee; deer and rabbits may browse any plant.
Pollinators & wildlife
- Wildlife food
- Nuts for birds and small mammals
- Evidence
- Species-level guidance; cultivar habitat value varies.
Seasonal interest
- Foliage
- Purple spring leaves, purple-green in summer
Growing & care
- Pruning
- Preserve the natural crown; weeping forms may need early leader training. Avoid heavy canopy opening and damage to shallow roots or thin bark.
Sources & photo credits
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
University of Minnesota Extension
Photo: David J. Stang · CC BY-SA 4.0
Reviewed September 22, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.