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 |
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 |