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Purple Beech Hedge (Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea')

Purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea'), also known as Copper Beech, is a striking deciduous hedging plant valued for its rich purple foliage, dense growth and excellent screening potential. Its foliage changes through the seasons, developing deep purple and copper tones before turning reddish-brown in autumn.
This versatile beech hedge is suitable for a range of UK gardens and landscapes, thriving in full sun or partial shade and adapting to clay, chalk, loam and other well-drained soils.

Fast Growth Rate
Grows to 8m
Deciduous
Native
Plant Guarantee

Growth Rate: Approximately 40-60cm per year under suitable conditions
Typical Hedge Height: Easily maintained at around 1-5m
Soil: Suitable for clay, chalk and other moist, well-drained soils
Sites: Suitable for inland, coastal and exposed locations
Foliage: Purple and green tones in spring and summer, developing copper and reddish-brown shades in autumn
Guarantee: 12-month guarantee on all plants

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Select Size & Quantity

Height cm	Price inc VAT	Planting Density
Purple Beech Pot Grown 2L 40/60cm	Regular price £9.46 Sale price £9.46 Regular price Unit price per	4 to 5 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 2L 60/80cm	Regular price £12.86 Sale price £12.86 Regular price Unit price per	4 to 5 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 5L 100/125cm	Regular price £24.59 Sale price £24.59 Regular price Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 5L 125/150cm	Regular price £25.63 Sale price £25.63 Regular price Unit price per	2 to 3 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 7.5L 125/150cm	Regular price £32.95 Sale price £32.95 Regular price Unit price per	2 to 3 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 7.5L 150/175cm	Regular price £41.60 Sale price £41.60 Regular price Unit price per	2 to 3 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 10L 100/125cm	Regular price £43.11 Sale price £43.11 Regular price Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 10L 150/175cm	Regular price £63.53 Sale price £63.53 Regular price Unit price per	2 to 3 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 12L 175/200cm	Regular price £66.55 Sale price £66.55 Regular price Unit price per	2 per metre

Height cm	Price inc VAT	Planting Density
Purple Beech Pot Grown 2L 40/60cm (x50) Multi-deal	Regular price £425.70 Sale price £425.70 Regular price Unit price per	4 to 5 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 2L 60/80cm (x50) Multi-deal	Regular price £578.70 Sale price £578.70 Regular price Unit price per	4 to 5 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 5L 100/125cm (x40) Multi-deal	Regular price £885.24 Sale price £885.24 Regular price Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 5L 125/150cm (x40) Multi-deal	Regular price £922.68 Sale price £922.68 Regular price Unit price per	2 to 3 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 7.5L 125/150cm (x28) Multi-deal	Regular price £830.34 Sale price £830.34 Regular price Unit price per	2 to 3 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 7.5L 150/175cm (x28) Multi-deal	Regular price £838.66 Sale price £838.66 Regular price Unit price per	2 to 3 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 10L 100/125cm (x14) Multi-deal	Regular price £543.19 Sale price £543.19 Regular price Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 10L 150/175cm (x14) Multi-deal	Regular price £800.48 Sale price £800.48 Regular price Unit price per	2 to 3 per metre
Purple Beech Pot Grown 12L 175/200cm - 10 Plants	Regular price £598.95 Sale price £598.95 Regular price Unit price per	2 per metre

Select Size & Quantity

Height cm	Price inc VAT	Planting Density
Purple Beech Bare root 60/80cm	Regular price £4.31 Sale price £4.31 Regular price ~~£4.79~~ Unit price per	4 to 5 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 80/100cm	Regular price £6.70 Sale price £6.70 Regular price ~~£5.86~~ Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 100/125cm	Regular price £20.15 Sale price £20.15 Regular price ~~£22.39~~ Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 125/150cm	Regular price £32.13 Sale price £32.13 Regular price ~~£35.70~~ Unit price per	2 to 3 per metre

Height cm	Price inc VAT	Planting Density
Purple Beech Bare root 60/80cm (x50) Multi-deal	Regular price £199.34 Sale price £199.34 Regular price ~~£221.54~~ Unit price per	4 to 5 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 60/80cm (x100) Multi-deal	Regular price £387.90 Sale price £387.90 Regular price ~~£431.10~~ Unit price per	4 to 5 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 60/80cm (x250) Multi-deal	Regular price £969.75 Sale price £969.75 Regular price ~~£1,077.75~~ Unit price per	4 to 5 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 60/80cm (x500) Multi-deal	Regular price £1,885.62 Sale price £1,885.62 Regular price ~~£2,095.62~~ Unit price per	4 to 5 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 80/100cm (x50) Multi-deal	Regular price £318.25 Sale price £318.25 Regular price ~~£271.03~~ Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 80/100cm (x100) Multi-deal	Regular price £619.75 Sale price £619.75 Regular price ~~£527.40~~ Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 80/100cm (x250) Multi-deal	Regular price £1,507.50 Sale price £1,507.50 Regular price ~~£1,318.50~~ Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 80/100cm (x500) Multi-deal	Regular price £2,931.25 Sale price £2,931.25 Regular price ~~£2,563.75~~ Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 100/125cm (x50) Multi-deal	Regular price £931.94 Sale price £931.94 Regular price ~~£1,035.54~~ Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 100/125cm (x100) Multi-deal	Regular price £1,813.50 Sale price £1,813.50 Regular price ~~£2,015.10~~ Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 100/125cm (x250) Multi-deal	Regular price £4,533.75 Sale price £4,533.75 Regular price ~~£5,037.75~~ Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 100/125cm (x500) Multi-deal	Regular price £8,815.62 Sale price £8,815.62 Regular price ~~£9,795.62~~ Unit price per	3 to 4 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 125/150cm (x50) Multi-deal	Regular price £688.75 Sale price £688.75 Regular price ~~£1,651.13~~ Unit price per	2 to 3 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 125/150cm (x100) Multi-deal	Regular price £2,891.70 Sale price £2,891.70 Regular price ~~£3,213.00~~ Unit price per	2 to 3 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 125/150cm (x250) Multi-deal	Regular price £7,229.25 Sale price £7,229.25 Regular price ~~£8,032.50~~ Unit price per	2 to 3 per metre
Purple Beech Bare root 125/150cm (x500) Multi-deal	Regular price £6,343.75 Sale price £6,343.75 Regular price ~~£15,618.75~~ Unit price per	2 to 3 per metre

Select Size & Quantity

	Height cm	Price inc VAT	Planting Density	Plants Quantity
	Purple Beech Root ball 175/200cm	Regular price £65.00 Sale price £65.00 Regular price ~~£111.32~~ Unit price per	2 per metre

	Height cm	Price inc VAT	Planting Density	Pallet Quantity
	Purple Beech Root ball 175/200cm (x8) Multi-deal	Regular price £721.37 Sale price £721.37 Regular price ~~£801.50~~ Unit price per	2 per metre

Select Size & Quantity

	Height cm	Price inc VAT	Planting Density	Plants Quantity
	Purple Beech Instant Hedging 80/100cm 1m Trough	Regular price £128.56 Sale price £128.56 Regular price Unit price per	1 per metre

	Height cm	Price inc VAT	Planting Density	Pallet Quantity
	Purple Beech Instant Hedging 80/100cm 1m Trough (x3) Multi-deal	Regular price £347.11 Sale price £347.11 Regular price Unit price per	1 per metre

Purple Beech Hedge Description

Purple Beech is an excellent choice if you want a hedge that combines practical screening with distinctive ornamental colour.

The deep purple foliage provides a dramatic contrast against green planting, while the dense branching structure helps create a substantial garden boundary.

One of the main advantages of Purple Beech hedging is its ability to retain some of its autumn foliage through winter when the hedge is maintained correctly.

This can help provide continued structure and screening even after the growing season has finished.

Purple Beech is also relatively adaptable. It performs well in full sun and partial shade, although stronger sunlight generally produces the richest foliage colour.

It can grow in clay, chalk, loam and sandy soils provided the ground is moist but well drained. Waterlogged conditions should be avoided.

How to Prune a Purple Beech Hedge

Purple Beech is relatively straightforward to maintain and generally requires one main pruning session each year once established.

For an established hedge, late summer, particularly August, is a suitable time to prune. This helps maintain the hedge's shape while allowing new growth to mature before winter.

Late-summer pruning can also help the hedge retain its autumn foliage, supporting its screening value during the colder months.

If a newly planted hedge has sparse or leggy growth, light formative pruning may help encourage bushier development. Avoid unnecessarily hard pruning young plants while they are establishing.

An overgrown Purple Beech hedge can also be renovated, but major reductions are best carried out gradually rather than removing a large proportion of the hedge in one operation.

Purple Beech Planting Density

The ideal planting density depends on the size and root type of the plants you select, as well as how quickly you want the hedge to become dense.

As a general guide, Purple Beech can be planted at approximately 3–7 plants per metre, depending on the plant size and desired final density. Cell-grown and bare-root plants may require different spacing recommendations.

For a fuller hedge, plants can also be arranged in a double staggered row, providing greater coverage than a single row.

Always use the recommended planting density shown for your selected plant size and root type as the primary guide.

Further Information

Choosing the right Purple Beech plants depends on the final hedge height you want, the available planting space, your preferred density and how quickly you want the hedge to establish.

For the best results:

Choose a sunny or partially shaded position.
Prepare the soil before planting and ensure it drains well.
Water plants thoroughly during establishment and dry periods.
Keep competing grass and weeds away from the base of the hedge.
Follow the recommended plants-per-metre guidance for your selected size.
Prune established hedges in late summer to maintain shape and density.
Avoid severe pruning of newly planted hedges while they are establishing.
Allow enough room for the hedge to develop without obstructing paths, fences or neighbouring planting.

FAQs

Is Purple Beech the same as Copper Beech?
Yes. Purple Beech and Copper Beech are commonly used names for purple-leaved forms of Fagus sylvatica. The foliage can range from reddish-purple to deep purple and develops coppery tones as it matures and changes colour in autumn.

Is Purple Beech a good choice for a privacy hedge?
Yes. Purple Beech can form a dense, substantial hedge suitable for privacy screening, boundaries and formal garden planting. Its ability to retain some autumn foliage through winter can also provide useful seasonal screening.

When is the best time to plant Purple Beech?
Bare root Purple Beech is best planted during the dormant season, generally from autumn through winter, avoiding periods when the ground is waterlogged. Container-grown plants have a wider planting window but are usually easier to establish when conditions are cooler and moisture is more readily available.

Will Purple Beech grow in clay soil?
Yes. Purple Beech can grow in clay soil as well as chalk, loam and sandy soils, provided the soil is suitably drained. Heavy, persistently waterlogged ground should be avoided because excessive moisture can affect root health.

Does Purple Beech need full sun?
Purple Beech can grow in both full sun and partial shade. However, a position with more sunlight generally encourages stronger purple foliage colour, making a sunny location preferable if colour is a key reason for choosing this variety.

Can an overgrown Purple Beech hedge be cut back?
Yes, established Purple Beech hedges can tolerate renovation pruning. However, if substantial reduction is needed, it is better to spread hard pruning over more than one season rather than removing a large amount of growth at once. This gives the hedge more time to recover and produce new growth.

Delivery & Returns

We offer free delivery within 50 miles of our nursery, making it convenient to have your Purple Beech Hedge plants delivered directly to your property within our local delivery area.

Delivery outside the 50-mile area may be available depending on your location and order. Please contact us if you are unsure whether your address falls within the delivery area.

All plants are carefully prepared for delivery and are covered by our 12 Month Guarantee On All Plants, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.

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With over 30+ years in the horticultural industry, Bannister Hall is an award winning UK plants nursery. We are trusted growers and online retailers of everything plants including topiary, trees, hedges, and shrubs, supplying outdoor plants nationwide to homeowners, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, local authorities, the NHS, landscaping designers, gardeners, contractors, and property developers. From our three privately owned British plants nurseries we offer specialist nationwide delivery of high quality plants at unbeatable prices. Our nurseries can be visited by everyone and you can also shop here online choosing from over 40,000 plant species. We are fully DEFRA compliant and approved by the national 'Plant Healthy Scheme'. Buy Hedges, Trees, Plants & Shrubs Direct Online with Free Delivery and 12 months plants guarantee- Tel. 0330 236 7330.