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Copper Beech Garden Tours emphasizing design, history and horticulture
in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Holland, Italy and Europe. |
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2008 Hampton Court Flower Show and an In-depth Look at the Gardens of Gertrude Jekyll Linda McHam, host This tour is closed 2009 Gardens of France with The Courson Flower Show & The Chaumont Flower Show |
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The Copper Beech
Fagus sylvatica 'Atropunicea' ('Purpurea') I named my company Copper Beech Garden Tours because I love this tree! I first saw it in new England when we lived in New York City. Later, I saw it in many gardens that I visited in England and other parts of Europe. I hope that you will enjoy the information that I have accumulated on this tree. If you have more information to share, please let me know. |
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The Tours: History, Horticulture & more: |
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"Fagus sylvatica 'cuprea' is the old name for Fagus sylvatica Purpurea. Leaves are variable, sometimes a little more dark, sometimes they are not quite so much. In England, we call it the Copper Beech, sometimes people call it the Purple Beech." — James Harris, Oct. 14, 2002 This is the final word on the Copper Beech from James Harris of Mallet Court in England who grows hundreds of varieties of beech, oak and maples. In fact, his nickname is "Acer" Harris! I met him at his nursery in 1996 on a tour with Mike Dirr and Allan Armitage. I ran into Mr and Mrs Harris again at Chelsea Flower Show in 2002 where they were exhibiting their plants. I re-introduced myself and they told me that they had recently been in North Carolina visiting Brian Upchurch's nursery. I had told Brian about James Harris in November of 2001 and gave him detailed information on how to contact Mr Harris. Obviously, Brian did get in touch with Mr Harris and they hit it off! It's a much smaller world than you might imagine! I later recalled that I had seen Mr Harris' exhibit in 1995 the first time I went to Chelsea. I thought it was one of the best since my main interest is in trees! If you like beeches, oaks and maples, you should visit Mr Harris' web site at Mallet Court. |
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| Linda taking photos at Bill Taylor's Japanese maple and conifer garden in Spartanburg, SC on November 23, 2004. Photo by Linda Cobb. | |||||||||||||||
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For the best description of trees in general, you should purchase a copy of Michael A. Dirr's book Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, 5th edition in hardback or paperback. No self-respecting nursery will be without it, and it is the manual of choice for all the agricultural universities in the USA. Mike Dirr has this information for the Copper Beech: The interesting thing about beech trees is this: the American beech (Fagus grandifolia) produces true to seed; there are no known cultivars although the species is somewhat variable. The European beech (Fagus sylvatica) has hundreds of cultivars and many are seen in the USA. I have personally planted several of the European varieties here in Spartanburg, SC, but they don't like our evening heat and, so far, have remained dwarf versions of the trees you see in the northeast of the USA. Milliken & Co, Inc. has many in their collection at the Spartanburg arboretum and they have performed much better than mine. It is worth visiting the arboretum to see them. There is one particularly great specimen of purple beech at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC that is probably over 100 years old. It is located between the left side of the main house and the parterres and conservatory. |
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All landscape photography, illustration, design, and layout © Linda T. McHam. |
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