Alphabetical Plant Listing

Betula platyphylla (Japanese White Birch)

Japanese White Birch, White Birch, Asian White Birch


Betula platyphylla, commonly called Japanese white birch, is a medium to large-sized tree noted for its white bark, thin spreading branches, and slightly pendant branchlets. Featuring an elegant, pyramidal habit, it bears ovate, toothed, lime-green leaves, 3 in. long (7 cm), with some golden-yellow fall color before they shed for the winter. In spring, tiny yellowish-brown male flowers appear in drooping catkins while greenish female flowers appear in upright catkins. The female flowers give way to drooping cone-like fruits containing numerous small winged seeds.

Attractive in all seasons, this elegant birch tree is an excellent landscape tree in cool northern climates.

  • Grows up to 30-40 ft. tall (9-12 m) and 15-25 ft. wide (4.5-7.5 m).
  • A full sun or part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in medium to wet, well-drained soils. Tolerates a wide range of soils. Tolerates some dry soils, but is best in consistently moist ones.
  • Perfect as a specimen plant or in cottage gardens and foundation plantings
  • Low maintenance, this plant needs little pruning. If pruning is necessary, prune during the dormant season and avoid pruning in spring when the sap is running.
  • May be affected by sawflies, aphids, rust, and leaf spot.
  • Propagate by seed, softwood cuttings or grafting
  • Native to Northeast China, Korea and Japan

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Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 7
Heat Zones 5 – 7
Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Betula - Birches
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 30' – 40' (9m – 12m)
Spread 15' – 25' (4.5m – 7.5m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Tolerance Deer
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

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takkemei / 123RF Stock Photo

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 7
Heat Zones 5 – 7
Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Betula - Birches
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 30' – 40' (9m – 12m)
Spread 15' – 25' (4.5m – 7.5m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Tolerance Deer
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Betula - Birches

Guides with Betula - Birches

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