Beech trees with red leaves are a special feast for the eyes and not just in autumn. There are also beech trees that already show a red hue in spring and summer. But which ones are they and why are their leaves red?
Which beech tree has red leaves?
Theblood beech, which is also known as the purple beech, has red leaves when they shoot, which gradually turn green towards summer and take on an orange-red hue in autumn. TheCommon beech only gets a red color with its leaves in autumn.
How is the red color created in the leaves of the beech tree?
The red color of the copper beech leaves is caused by the dye they containCyanidin The sunnier the beech tree is, the higher the content of this dye and the more intensely the leaves shine in red If the beech tree is in the shade, the color is weaker and the leaves appear more green-red.
Which beech tree has red leaves?
Both thecolon beechand thecommon beech have red leaves. They both belong to the beech family (Fagaceae) and differ only in terms of their foliage color. While the copper beech (Fagus sylvatica purpurea) appears red when it shoots, is tinged with red in the summer and dances again in a sea of flames in autumn, the common beech (Fagus sylvatica) only shows a red color in its foliage in autumn. It should be mentioned that the copper beech is a mutation of the common beech.
How does copper beech differ from copper beech?
The common beech has leaves that are coloredgreenwhen they shoot and in summer and turn reddish in autumn. The copper beech, on the other hand, is bathed in a more or lessred color from spring to autumn.
Can the flowers and fruits of the beech tree also be red?
The flowers and fruits of the copper beech are alsosubtle, but visibletinted reddish. The flowers and fruits of the common beech, however, are not reddish.
When do the leaves of the beech tree change color?
The leaves of the copper beech emerge in springin acopper redcolor and change color over the coming weeksburgundy redbefore they appear in mid-summer ratherdark red-green. In the fall they glow a orange-red color before shedding in late fall to winter.
Do red beech leaves also contain chlorophyll?
The red leaves of the copper beechcontainalsoChlorophyll However, this is hardly recognizable with its typical green color. This is because the proportion of the pigment cyanidin is significantly higher than that of chlorophyll. In autumn, the chlorophyll in the leaves is slowly broken down. That's why a red tone now appears in the copper beeches, which was previously overshadowed by the higher chlorophyll content.
Tip
For an intense red color, pay attention to your choice of location
It is best to plant a copper beech in a sunny location if you want to enjoy spectacular foliage color. In the shade, the color fades more quickly and turns into a green-red.
