Fagus Sylvatica Dawyck Purple Beech

Fagus Sylvatica Dawyck Purple or Beech Dawyck Purple
Dawyck Purple is a common beech cultivar, admired for its fastigiate form. Narrowly columnar, with striking purple foliage and rich autumn colour, Fagus Sylvatica Dawyck Purple adds drama and architectural value to any landscape. A small deciduous beech tree, Beech Dawyck Purple is suitable for mass planting and can be used for creating a showy screen, lining pathways or grown on its own, as an elegant specimen tree.

From the moment they unfold to the first frosts, the broad, leathery leaves of this cultivar are a beautiful deep purple shade. As the summer and autumn progress, the violet hues of the foliage intensify and deepen even more, creating a spectacular display of burgundy. The branches are stiff and upright and create a naturally slender, columnar form.

Fagus Sylvatica Dawyck Purple, to give it its full botanical name, is easy to grow and to care for. As long as the soil is well-drained, this ornamental tree will thrive. Although it fares well in dappled shade, it is recommended to grow this cultivar in a spot in full sun, as it will encourage the vibrancy of its deep violet foliage. Rarely affected by pest and diseases, this variety is also noted for its resistance to Verticillium Wilt.

Fully hardy in the United Kingdom, this deciduous tree will not mind even if the winter temperatures drop to 15 degrees below zero. A recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by Royal Horticultural Society, Fagus Sylvatica Dawyck Purple has been recognized as a cultivar of outstanding qualities, both when it comes to its constitution and appearance.

With a narrow, columnar habit, Beech Dawyck Purple can grow to be up to 12 metres high and just 4 metres wide. The refined, architectural form of the tree is not a result of extensive trimming and pruning, but a natural growth habit of the tree. In fact, not only this tree needs no pruning to stay neat and tidy, it dislikes it. You should only remove dead or damaged branches from the tree, but make sure to be careful not to damage the delicate bark.

Best suited for planting en masse, the majestic Fagus Sylvatica Dawyck Purple is the perfect choice for hedges or lining avenues and walkways. Its elegant natural form and ease of maintenance ensure you will not have to put in any extra effort to keep its attractive looks, and the graceful upright branches provide interest even when the showy foliage drops. In case you want to grow this cultivar as a specimen tree, have in mind that with its slow growth rate it will look truly impressive on its own only after a few years. 

more examples of fastigiate beech include Fagus Sylvatica Dawyck with green foliage and Fagus Sylvatica Dawyck Gold with golden foliage.