How old/how big is your Tricolor Beech?

5 years ago

Hello,

This is an informal survey:

If you have a tricolor beech growing, how big is it, how many years old, and what region or climate?

I'm about to plant one in a space that I know will eventually be cramped compared to the largest mature size listed for the tricolor. The rectangle of grass is about 22' x 28', between two driveways, with a maple on the other side of the sidewalk (the maple is a few years old, perhaps 15' tall, 7' wide currently). The tricolor will be about 14-15' from the corner of the house. It's my only site option for any late afternoon shade. I'm in zone 5 IL.

I read a comment by one of you lovely people on another thread -- something like, I'd rather enjoy a plant for 20 years and then have to remove it than not have it at all (very rough paraphrase, maybe this will trigger your memory if it sounds like something you said). Of course I don't want to have to remove any healthy tree, but I also wouldn't want to entirely miss out on a tree that might, indeed, be perfectly happy there.

That said, tell me your tricolor stories. :)

Featured Answer

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

something like, I'd rather enjoy a plant for 20 years and then have to remove it than not have it at all

==>>> im sure i said that in the way back machine ... and its spot on ...

just do it ... it says it all above.. whats more to question and answer ...

i dont have a current picture.. but here is mine.. back when i had a dwarf infestation ... hes 19 now ..

ken

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Comments (6)

bestany
Original Author
5 years ago
@ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5 Dwarf infestation, you mean the little redhead!? LOL That took me a minute. I have the *same problem*!
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Embothrium
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Plant being discussed is actually 'Purpurea Tricolor'. Although like all Fagus sylvatica somewhat slow growing for a tree It is genetically programmed to produce a full height specimen over 60 ft. tall with a proportionate crown spread. So that I have seen multiple landmark examples in my part of USDA 8. With one in France having grown over 100 ft. tall many years ago.

However since this cultivar is basically a foliage plant and beech is pruning tolerant, used as a sheared hedge one option could be plant yours where you want and just keep it cut back as needed. In addition with 'Purpurea Tricolor' there is a recurring issue with the high level of coloring seen with nursery sized specimens diminishing in time (sometimes not much time), so that large, well developed examples are somewhat lacking in purpose. Because the dominant impression produced at that point is that of a not very purple (during summer) beech with pink highlights here and there, producing a somewhat eerie or weird effect. (Think a brown paper bag that has just been set on fire, in the first stages of burning). And it may be possible that grown with regular pruning yours might actually retain exciting coloring it came with from the nursery - I don't know.
bestany thanked Embothrium
pennlake
5 years ago
I bought one at Menards thinking it would surely fail but WTH. 10 years later it's still going though slowly. It's maybe 15' tall x 10' wide and not the shapeliest thing. Zone 4b MN.
bestany thanked pennlake
bestany
Original Author
5 years ago
@Embothrium The tricolor I picked out isn't scheduled to be planted for another two weeks. It's giving me too much time to reconsider my choice! (Always a problem for me...)

I'm watching the shadows travel around the selected location and it won't get as much shade as I was thinking it would. I'm in zone 5. Now I'm considering changing my mind and going with an Emperor 1 Japanese Maple instead. Still a tree that's susceptible to sun scorch, but I'm reading that it might handle the sun better than other JM's. Decisions, decisions. I'm not excited for any tree to be crispy for half the season. Thoughts?
kriii
5 years ago
My tree is in part shade, pretty close to the house and zone 6. It was planted last summer. I will either move it or prune to size if it gets too large. It was sun scorched when I bought it so interested to see how it does this year.