Russell Stafford
Family
Betulaceae
Botanical Name
BETULA mandshurica var. japonica
Plant Common Name
Japanese White Birch
General Description
A beautiful, upright, white-barked deciduous tree, this native of Japan is the most widely grown variety of Manchurian birch. The single or sometimes branched trunk is clad in chalky, milk-white bark, giving it year-round interest. Attractive elongated pores (lenticels) decorate the trunk and branches. The relatively large, triangular, toothed leaves alternate along dark brown twigs. The leaves turn yellow in autumn. The foliage emerges later in spring than that of typical Manchurian birch, making it less vulnerable to damage from late frosts. Caterpillar-like, yellow-green flower catkins appear in fall, persist through winter, and lengthen in spring, providing ornament during the dormant season.
Somewhat more heat-tolerant than the similar paper birch (Betula papyrifera), this beautiful tree does best in full to partial sun and well-drained, humus-rich soil. It is lovely with needle evergreens, which form a dark backdrop for the white trunk in winter. It is often planted in groups so that the trees will shade each other's roots. The borer-resistant cultivar 'Whitespire' is widely available. Betula mandshurica sometimes goes under the name Betula platyphlla.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
7 - 5
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USDA Hardiness Zone
5 - 7
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Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6
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Plant Type
Tree
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Bloom Time
Spring
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Native To
Japan
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Yellow Green
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Yellow Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Yellow
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Bark Color
White
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
Yes
