Purple-leaved Silver Birch A lovely, purple-leaved tree, suitable for the medium-sized garden, Betula pendula subsp. pendula Purpurea is a deciduous tree with a pendulous habit and silvery bark, turning black at the base. The leaves emerge dark purple to dark red, turning purplish-green in summer, and purple-bronze in autumn. Good in courtyard gardens, wildlife gardens and flower-beds, as it’s a loose-crowned tree. Purple-leaved silver birch is an easy tree, needing minimal pruning, and can be propagated by softwood cuttings and layering. Site: Tolerates exposureSoil: Any moist, well-drained or well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeSeason of interest: Spring to autumnHardiness: Fully hardy Height: Higher than 40’ (12m) Spread: Wider than 26” (8m) in 20-50 years