Whitespire Birch has dark green foliage throughout the season. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. The bright green leaves rustle in the wind and turn the brightest yellow in the fall. Keep in mind that paper, silver and river birch can grow 40 to 60 feet high, with a spread of 20 to 25 feet, while weeping birch will only get half that tall. The Himalayan Birch (Betula Utilis var Jacquemontii) is a wonderful tree and can be purchased single or multi-stem. 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. But gray birch trees grow in clumps, producing multiple trunks, and their bark, which does not peel, is not especially attractive. The fall foliage color is yellow. A wonderful birch tree selection with snowy white bark and good fall color; higher resistance to the dreaded bronze birch borer than most other white-barked … In winter, it shows off its warm creamy-brown exfoliating bark. your own Pins on Pinterest Betula species such as river birch trees (Betula nigra) are among the best selections for fall foliage specimens. Plant it in full sun to partial shade. It is also used as an ornamental tree to brighten up a landscape. Speaking more accurately, the bark is silvery-bronze in color with hints of gold. But the birches boast other traits, too, that will catch the attention of homeowners seeking year-round interest in the yard. However you first fell in love with Whitespire Birch (Betula populifolia 'Whitespire'), it makes a fabulous, fine-textured accent tree. A good selection for poor soils and other difficult sites, it also demonstrates some resistance to bronze birch borer (BBB). I am looking to plant a clumped birch in my front yard that faces west. Many are excellent garden and landscape trees. This birch tree is tolerant of most soil conditions and considered to be resistant to bronze birch borer. Another of the attractive non-white birch trees is the yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis). The Whitespire Birch displays chalk-white bark that does not exfoliate. Grow these two trees if you live in Canada or the northern tier of U.S. states (planting zones 2 to 6). Tolerant of wet soils, it’s the first weeping birch with resistance to the Bronze birch borer. Birch trees ( Betula ) are graceful, undemanding trees in the appropriate setting and can thrive for 30 years to 300 years. These deer resistant trees have gained popularity due their unique bark and great yellow fall color.. You may notice that some yards have a single tree birch tree while others have clumps or multiple birch trees. Make sure to plant this tree where soil is likely to remain cool. Their height and spread are similar to that of river birch trees. But yellowing of leaves and dieback this time of year is something I am well aware can happen if the watering needs of these trees are not met throughout the season. This tree also features interesting catkins which grace the tree in the summer. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. An alternate common name is "black" birch, which is reflected in the species name, nigra (Latin for "black"). We are seeking a second opinion re the white vs red birch. Most importantly, sweet birch bears a more reliably strong, golden-yellow fall foliage than most other birches (whose autumn leaves sometimes lapse into paler yellows). The chalky white bark, fluttery leaves and crisp, clean form are hard to miss. The plant grows to be 40 to 50 feet tall, with a spread of 35 to 45 feet. Selected over twenty years ago by Dr. Edward R. Hasselkus at the University of Wisconsin, Madison Arboretum. ‘Royal Frost’ is an upright pyramidal birch featuring burgundy-red to purple foliage, showy yellow-orange to red fall color and attractive white bark. It can be grown in planting zones 3 to 9. Mature Height: 30-40' Mature Width: 20-25' Some 60 different species of birch exist on the planet, but less than a dozen or so are common to North America. Birds, especially goldfinches and other small seed eaters feed heavily on Whitespire birch seed. The bark remains white longer than, does poorly in high summer heat, especially root zone heat, fairly soil adaptable, often found growing in sandy, gravely soils. River birch, Betula nigra, variety ‘Heritage’ is a good replacement for the tree white barked birch. I planted this specimen in 2009 and has done beautifully even though it only gets partial sun. Prefers well-drained, slightly acid sandy loam soils, easy to transplant and establish from container or B&B, not tolerant of pollution or difficult sites, bronze birch borer can be a serious problem and often hits trees just as they enter their peak in the landscape. It is composed of phenols such as guaiacol, cresol, xylenol, and creosol.. Learn about several members of this species that you may want to grow if you value beautiful, versatile trees. The Royal Frost birch inherited beautiful white bark and resistance to the bronze birch borer from the parent Japanese white birch selection Whitespire. Yellow birches should be grown in full sun to partial shade, in planting zones 4 to 7. Whitespire has a beautiful spire-like upright form, white non-exfoliating bark and excellent bronze birch borer resistance. Whitespire Birch is very adaptable preferring moist, well drained, slightly acidic soils. Gray birch is a narrow, pyramidal tree of cool climates. A Whitespire birch "standard" is where there is only one trunk on the tree. Plant taller species 20 to 30 feet apart. Thanks to the Crimson Frost birch it displays attractive burgundy-red foliage. I will provide you qualities, features and care requirements to enable you to decide which is best suited to meet your own  environment and personalized criteria. "River" birch is called so because, in its native habitat, it is often found growing near rivers. If you enjoy the multi stem look here is how you can do it yourself. Birch tar was used widely as an adhesive as early as the Middle Paleolithic to early Mesolithic era. River birch is a fast-growing, deciduous semi-aquatic tree that reaches between 50 and 90 feet in height. The ornamental bark does not peel. Perform… Female catkins 1″ to 1.5″ long, young branches show smooth, reddish-brown bark with horizontal lenticels, bark becoming papery, chalky white after about 4 seasons, bark exfoliates or peels in strips to expose orange inner bark, on very mature trunks, the white is mixed with rough, black patches, probably the best white bark birch. Compounds. Betula utilis ‘Madison’ White … Betula is a genus of about 60 species of deciduous trees and shrubs found throughout the northern hemisphere. Consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist. The trees' peeling bark is as attractive as the fall foliage. But do not settle for trees alone when it comes to growing plants for fall color, because there are plenty of shrubs and vines with fall color that gives you additional choices (in fact, being smaller, such plants may be better suited to small yards). In addition to its white bark and yellow fall foliage, the form of this tree provides landscaping interest. A Whitespire birch "twin" is where there are two trunks on the tree. Not as bad as, bark can be slow to turn white for the impatient, in the wild, limited to moist areas and is most commonly found along stream banks and areas that flood, mature specimens exhibit a rounded to irregular crown, Has intense scent of peppermint in the sap, somewhat diamond-shaped with a wedge-shaped leaf base, male flowers are 2″ to 3″ in bloom, 0.75″ prior to bloom, young trunk and branches have thin, shiny red-brown bark, older portions develop creamy orange bark; reminds me of a “creamsicle” that exfoliates in large thin sheet, on very old trunks and branches bark turn brown and develops ridges and furrows in a somewhat platy fashion, makes best growth on moist river bottom soil, but has proven to be adaptable to dried sites, develops chlorosis (iron) on soils above pH 6.5, better adapted to heat than other birches, easily transplanted and established from B&B or container, bark not white, for those expecting white bark on birch, Gardening Guides provide introductory information on a broad range of horticultural topics. This river birch is surprisingly fast growing in the nursery but quickly matures to a graceful weeping habit that controls its ultimate size. It makes your compound look good. This variety of clump Birch tree is famous for its white chalk bark. bark becoming papery, chalky white after about 4 seasons; bark exfoliates or peels in strips to expose orange inner bark; on very mature trunks, the white is mixed with rough, black patches; probably the best white bark birch. Older trees develop a chalky white bark that does not peel. This birch tree is tolerant of most soil conditions and considered to be resistant to bronze birch borer. It has a wonderful yellow fall color. Paper Birch and River Birch are some of the most popular landscape trees. It has this amount of space on sides (between it and the fig and rose tree) and in front we don't mind if it goes 3-4 feet which its tag suggests (I'm assuming 6-8 … They shed their bark like the paper birches. We like the visual aesthetics of the white birch and want to add one to our landscape. They are native to this region, and they prefer its cool temperatures. Noteworthy Characteristics. Birch, White Spire - Affordable Trees. Genus name is the Latin name for birch. Its fall foliage color is yellow. Its fall foliage color is yellow. For more details, see our, Weeping Cherry Trees and Other Cascading Trees, 12 Trees With Brilliant Fall Color Plus Other Advantages, 15 Varieties of Japanese Maple Trees With Colorful Foliage. I would like to know which is better a paper birch or river birch. As you learn how to trim a river birch tree, you will be opting to see your natural environment in a better way. Sweet birch (Betula lenta) has dark-colored bark. But it derives its common name not from the color of its foliage, but rather from the color of its peeling bark. It is more tolerant to drought than white-bark birches and is not attacked by bronze birch borer—great! jacquemontii (Himalayan Birch), which is prized for its brilliant and exceptionally white bark, is a lovely addition to the landscape. Mature size is around 30-40' tall x … I have 3 Whitespire Birch clumps (Betula Platyhylla) that I planted about 8 years ago. Native to the Himalaya, Betula utilis var. Another birch tree grown as much for its peeling bark as for its fall foliage is the paper birch (Betula papyrifera). Its diamond shaped, double-toothed leaves produce an … You can opt-out at any time. They can be multi-trunked trees or grown to have just one trunk. The chalky bark, or “paper,” is more striking than that of the river birch trees, sometimes attaining to almost a pure white (which is … Aug 2, 2019 - This Pin was discovered by Nessa. Native to the Eastern U.S., they will reach a height of 40 to 70 feet with a spread of 25 to 35 feet. Its bark resembles that of our native white birch. River birch trees can be grown in planting zones 4 to 9. European white birch trees have a slender trunk of perhaps a foot in width and noticeably drooping branches throughout its canopy. It is now assigned to Betula populifolia and the plants are often sold under the name 'Whitespire Senior' to avoid confusion. Leaves are glossy, dark green turning yellowish-green in fall. The species, Betula populifolia, or gray birch, is a short-lived, narrow-columnar, suckering, deciduous tree that typically grows to 20-40’ tall. Paper birch bark peels off the tree in long, narrow strips and exposes an inner bark that is orange in color. If a white birch has a resonable prospect of doing well, is there a white species that you recommend for central Illinois? Like the other white birches, they should be viewed as high maintenance, short-lived landscape trees. There was one silver birch outside 65 Rugby St which was Betula utilis. It has a wonderful yellow fall color. A wonderful birch tree selection with snowy white bark and good fall color; higher resistance to the dreaded bronze birch borer than most other white-barked birches make this a preferred variety for home landscape use. All of my birch trees, which include river birch and white spire, are well established and are all at least 15 years old. While young trees have a rich brown bark, it quickly changes to gleaming snow-white as the tree matures. My problem is one of the trees I believe went into early Hibernation, it lost all of its leaves, 3 to 4 weeks before the other two trees last fall. The White Spire Birch is very tolerant of high temperatures. Betula is Latin for birch and describes a genus of about 60 species of deciduous trees and shrubs found in many gardens and landscapes throughout the northern hemisphere. It also tolerates poor soils. Problem with Whitespire Birch tree. One nursery had only red birches and told us white birches do not do well. It needs little pruning, but if necessary, prune during the dormant season. River birch trees tolerate the summer heat better than paper birch trees, meaning they are better suited to grow in warmer regions. Whitespire Birch has a nice narrow, pyramidal size and a chalky white bark that looks great all season long. The name 'Whitespire' was incorrectly assigned to Betula platyphylla.. The bark of this tree is famous for another reason, too: as the material for birch-bark canoes. Another birch tree grown as much for its peeling bark as for its fall foliage is the paper birch (Betula papyrifera). This bark sheds like that of the paper and river birch trees. Avoid pruning in spring when the sap is running. Discover (and save!) Betula x Royal Frost – Royal Frost Birch In St. Louis, gray birch is best grown in medium to wet, well-drained, sandy or rocky loams in full sun to part shade. Bright green leaves turn a yellow fall color. Plant them in full sun to partial shade. Ancient and modern uses. Furthermore, Whitespire birch is moderately susceptible to bronze birch borer, an insect which eventually kills many birch trees. Featuring an elegant, pyramidal habit, it bears ovate, toothed, lime-green leaves, 3 in. It is only after trimming river birch and other varieties that you will be … Another “white” birch is Young’s weeping birch (Betula pendula Youngii), a dwarf variety that reaches a height of 6 to 12 feet at maturity. These specimens are full-sun trees, but they will also tolerate partial shade. River birch (B. nigra) has a rich cinnamon-brown bark that peels beautifully (see bottom photo). Both the foliage and the bark makes this specimen one of the fragrant plants. This is a reference to its bark, which starts out salmon but turns darker as it matures. So this young Summer Cascade weeping River birch, according to its tag, will grow 6-8 feet both tall and wide. In the St. Louis area, it is best sited in a northern or eastern exposure that receives some afternoon shade. Ornamental Features. This native birch supports wildlife by supplying nesting sites and cover. The fall foliage of paper birch trees is similar to that of gray birch trees (Betula populifolia). A tall tree (60 to 80 feet) with a spread of about 30 feet, it has yellow fall foliage. Grow it in zones 4 to 7 in full sun to partial shade. Its parent, Betula pendula, is the European white birch. Something about a birch tree's dark branches and slim, white trunks stir the imagination. The chalky bark, or “paper,” is more striking than that of the river birch trees, sometimes attaining to almost a pure white (which is why it is also sometimes called "white birch"). This cultivar demonstrates good resistance to bronze birch borer (BBB). Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Asked June 5, 2013, 1:24 PM EDT. Culture It seems to tolerate drier soils in its native range. However, the leaves of river birch will become chlorotic (turn yellow) if grown in alkaline soils, which dominate our state. Whitespire birch, like most birch, prefers a wet, sheltered location. Thank you for addressing your question to the Toronto Master Gardeners on choice of birch trees. Originally I don't think the location I see in the photo would be suitable. Betula papyrifera (paper birch, also known as (American) white birch and canoe birch) is a short-lived species of birch native to northern North America.Paper birch is named for the tree's thin white bark, which often peels in paper like layers from the trunk. Whitespire has proven to be disease and pest resistant and is the most carefree white birch available today. The bark remains white longer than B. pendula and turns white relatively quickly on young branches. It requires full sun and rich soil. Himalayan birch, Chinese paper birch and Monarch birch are all occasionally used. Phonetic Spelling BET-yoo-luh pop-yoo-lih-FOH-lee-uh Description. Know what species of birch you are planting. As suggested by its name, the branches of this birch tree droop, or “weep” down towards the ground. Make sure to plant this tree where soil is likely to remain cool. Overgrown braches will create undesirable sight in your home. 777 Lawrence Avenue East Toronto, ON, Canada M3C 1P2 | Phone: 416-397-1345, Copyright © Toronto Master Gardeners 2019, older trees become oval to rounded, with increasing irregularity in shape, nurseries often grow them in groups of 3 or 4 (“clump birches”), typically branched to a few feet above the ground in open exposures, alternate, ovate, simple leaves, 2″ to 4″ long and 1.5″ to 3″ wide, color is a dull, dark green above and paler on the underside, 2″ to 4″ long catkins, usually in 3’s and some in pairs (male). Inspect the bark of all the white birches. They are also more borer-resistant than most birches. Neanderthals produced tar through the dry distillation of birch bark as early as 200,000 years ago. Maybe you've admired the pretty deciduous tree 3 blocks over. Of homeowners seeking year-round interest in the wind and turn the brightest yellow in the and... 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