Hello,

There may be a few factors affecting your tree.  Below is information that may help.  The weather in Colorado is inconsistent which makes it difficult from year to year.
Here is some information regarding leaf-scorch; 

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/leaf-scorch-2-911/
If you are interested a soil test could be done; here is the link...
http://www.soiltestinglab.colostate.edu/
Also fertilizing could play a part; below is related information. 
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/lawn-care-7-202/ 
This past winter was cold with moisture and then March and April were very dry all factors of added stress to trees and shrubs.
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/fall-and-winter-watering-7-211/

More reading....

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d407

https://hvp.osu.edu/pocketgardener/source/description/fa_atica.html

https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/fagus-sylvatica-tricolor

Thank you

Thanks for the info but none of it answered my question. Will the leaf color ever return to “normal”?

Sent from my iPhone



I'm sorry that reply didn't answer your question. Let's try again.

It could be that the variegation on the beech leaves is something that will develop as the leaves mature over the season and previously, you didn't notice it because absent the freeze you weren't investigating and observing so closely. In the article from Ohio State that we linked you above it says about the tri-colored beech cultivars, "…[v]ariegated foliage emerges very dark bronzed with a lavender margin, then turns to dark green with a pink margin during the Summer, maturing to light gray-green with a cream margin in early Autumn, and finally becoming somewhat golden in fall color." If that is what is happening with your tree, time will tell.
https://hvp.osu.edu/pocketgardener/source/description/fa_atica.html

A second possibility is that the tree is "reverting" back to its original color. Variegation is a genetic mutation and it's not unusual for plants propagated from genetic mutations (called "sports") to revert back to the dominant genes. Usually, however, reversion starts to appear on one branch or one stem which allows gardeners to prune out the part that is reverting and maintain the variegation. I have not seen an entire tree revert all at once. Here's some information about reversion
https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1602

Another thought is that your tri-color beech is  grafted onto understock and it is possible that the grafted portion of the tree was damaged in the freeze so the new growth is from understock that is not variegated. We haven't seen your tree but you can easily tell whether the new growth is understock or not. If it is from the existing branches, it's not; if it's on new growth arising from the roots at the base of the tree, it is.

I hope this better answers your question.

Thanks… I think I won’t know until next year… Wondering if it is a tree defense to the freeze. I have three different types of leaves on each branch… Some original first round normal color but deformed, solid purple/red and some green. Photos attached of first leaves coming out and what it looks like now. It’s fascinating.