Do those leaves look almost black to you? Here, on the Burgtorfriedhof in Lübeck stand two Blutbuchen. They stand directly beside each other. Blutbuchen are purple beech trees. These two trees are special landmarks.
Their story goes way back. People believe they were planted around 1820. That makes them over 200 years old. Imagine all they have witnessed in Lübeck.
The copper beech is a form of common beech. Its scientific name is Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea. Some people love its dramatic color. Others aren’t so fond of it.
In spring, their leaves are deep purple. By autumn, they turn a coppery hue. The leaves are oval and fringed with silky brown hairs. Even in winter, they hold onto some leaves. New shoots eventually force the old leaves to fall.
These Blutbuchen aren’t native. They are ornamental cultivars. People plant them for their beautiful purple leaves. They need a humid atmosphere and well-drained soil. Fertile, calcified, or lightly acidic ground is best. That’s why you often see them on hillsides.
Both male and female flowers grow on the same tree. Male catkins dangle from long stalks. Female flowers grow in pairs inside a cup. Wind pollinates the flowers. The cup then becomes woody. Inside are one or two reddish-brown beech nuts. These are also known as beechmast.
Many creatures depend on these trees. Moths like the barred hook-tip eat the foliage. Mice, voles, squirrels, and birds eat the seeds. Because beech trees live so long, they host many creatures. Hole-nesting birds and wood-boring insects make their homes here. Fungi, mosses, and lichens grow on the bark.
In Celtic mythology, Fagus was the god of beech trees. People once thought beech had medicinal uses. They used the leaves to relieve swellings. Boiling the leaves made a poultice.
Copper beeches first appeared in Europe in the 15th century. They were natural mutants of the common beech. The 20th-century gardener Russell Page wasn’t a fan. He said copper beech trees ruin a garden’s harmony.
But Blutbuchen make good hedges. You can cut them back hard. Clipped hedges keep their leaves. This creates a year-round dense screen. Garden birds love this habitat.
Like common beech, the wood has many uses. It can be fuel, furniture, or tool handles. It was also used to smoke herring. The nuts once fed pigs. In France, people still roast them as a coffee substitute.
Beech trees also help fight climate change. They lock in carbon. However, they can suffer from root rot and beech bark disease. Gray squirrels can also strip their bark.
These two Blutbuchen have stood here for centuries. They continue to be a striking landmark. Take a moment to appreciate their beauty. Consider their long history in Lübeck.