Birch

This slender deciduous tree is famed for its weeping soft habit and papery peeling bark. Its white bark is punctuated with attractive black fissures that feel rough to the touch. Silver Birch is an excellent tree to feature in a group planting or as a striking specimen tree. It provides a pleasing focal point with an underplanting of bulbs. The elegant branches are slightly weeping in habit with light green leaves which turn yellow in autumn.

Soil: Deep, well-drained soil
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade. Cold temperate, warm temperate
Size: Height 10m x width 4m

Betula pendula Alba, also known as Betula pendula, is a very popular medium-sized deciduous tree with a white trunk, pendulous branching and triangular-shaped green foliage. The foliage turns golden in autumn before falling to the ground. Adding to the interest, unique small winged-cone-shaped fruit are also shed in autumn. Birches are often mass planted, which gives a great effect of a natural plantation but are also effective as a single feature tree.

Soil: Deep, well-drained soil
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade. Cold temperate, warm temperate
Size: Height 12m x width 6m

Betula pendula 'Moss White' is a variation of the famous Silver Birch tree, known for its radiant white bark and elegant, drooping branches. The tree's fine, bright green foliage takes on a luminous pale yellow hue in autumn, creating a lovely softness to the tree. To showcase the stately white trunks and branching structure, consider planting it in groups or avenues. When pruning, it's important to do it in summer or autumn, and avoid pruning in winter or spring to prevent profuse 'bleeding'.

Soil: This tree thrives in moist, well-drained soil. Keep in mind that birches have shallow roots, so make sure to provide adequate watering during summer.
Conditions: The tree prefers to be planted in areas with sun to part-shade. It can tolerate short periods of wet and dry, and can withstand frost and coastal environments. However, it's important to protect it from hot winds.
Size: Height 10-11m x width 6m

Betula utilis var. Jacquemontii commonly known as the white-barked ‘Himalayan Birch’ is renowned for its striking, creamy-white peeling bark, which adds a highly ornamental touch to any landscape. Its ovate foliage has an unevenly serrated margin turning from dark green to yellow in autumn. The Himalayan Birch is a beautiful choice planted as a feature specimen or in groups and rows. Typically, it grows with a very straight trunk, enhancing its elegant look. 

Soil: Humus-rich, well-drained moist soil.
Conditions: Prefers full sun to part shade. Coast and frost tolerant, struggles in prolonged hot climates.
Size: Height 10m x width 6m 

Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii Jermyns is a vigorous, broad-conical deciduous tree celebrated for its striking, luminous white bark, which peels naturally in fine papery layers to provide year-round interest. Native to the Western Himalayas, it develops a dense, elegant crown of dark green foliage that turns a glowing golden yellow in autumn, adding warmth and contrast to the landscape. Renowned for its graceful form and exceptional bark, Jermyns is an outstanding choice for large gardens, parklands, and avenue plantings. It is particularly effective when planted in groups or clusters, where the gleaming white trunks create a dramatic visual rhythm. Well-suited to spacious landscapes, it can also be used for screening or light shelter while maintaining an airy, refined presence.

 

Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade.

Size: Height 8m × width 5m

Wades Golden Birch is a glowing, pyramidal-shaped deciduous tree with new golden foliage in the winter, later turning light green and then back to yellow-gold in autumn. Its most appealing feature is the bright orange stems which stand out in the winter against the classic stark white of the bark. A hardy tree well suited to smaller gardens, and a fantabulous tree for avenue planting! Prune the tree when planting to encourage growth.

Soil: Well-drained and well-mulched soil. Keep moist until the tree is established.
Conditions: Full sun. Frost and coastal tolerant.
Size: Height 10m x width 6m

The Betula pendula Purpurea, commonly known as the Purple Leaf Birch, is an elegant, medium-sized deciduous tree admired for its striking contrast of deep purple-black foliage against silvery-white bark. As the bark matures, it develops darker, textured tones—eventually becoming a beautiful blackish grey, adding year-round visual interest to the landscape. With its graceful, slender form and gently drooping branches, the Purple Leaf Birch makes a superb specimen or feature tree, while also looking stunning when planted in groups to create soft shade or structural contrast. Its fine-textured foliage and ornamental bark make it equally at home in formal gardens, mixed borders, or parkland-style plantings.

Soil: Moist, well-drained, fertile soil
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; prefers cooler climates
Size: Height 8–12 m × Width 4–6 m