Common Beech 'Riversii' Fagus sylvatica (Atropurpurea Group) 'Riversii'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FA-gus sil-VAT-i-ka ri-VERZ-ee-ee
- Description
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European Beech 'Riversii' is a cultivar with large, glossy purple leaves that turn striking copper in the fall. This cultivar is the most purple of all the beeches and even retains its purple color into the summer. It makes a great shade tree, screen, or a specimen but be sure to have room for its mature size of 50 feet - 60 feet tall and 40 feet -50 feet wide.
Plant in the full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils. It is not picky about soil pH or soil type growing in sand, clay or loam but it will not tolerate wet, poorly drained soils and sometimes struggles in urban environments. Very little pruning is needed to maintain an attractive shape in the is densely crowned tree. Heat and drought can be very hard on this tree. Its beautiful smooth gray barks makes for interest in the winter landscape. This tree does tolerate browsing by deer.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Aphids, Japanese beetles, and caterpillars can be insect pests. Trees under stress can be attacked by borers or beech scale. Cankers, powdery mildew, and beach bark diseases are occasional diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Lawn and Upper Drive Border
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Fagus
- Species:
- sylvatica
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- Triangular nuts surrounded by spiny bracts. Nuts are edible.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Monecious, yellow-green flowers bloom from April-May. Female flowers are short spikes, male flowers are long-stemmed drooping round clusters.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 5" long glossy leaves with wavy mostly smooth-margined that start out deep purple in the spring, turn green-purple in the summer and copper orange in the fall. The veins are prominent and parallel.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth pale gray bark makes for excellent winter interest.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Screen/Privacy
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
