Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. A wonderful large yard tree with terrific yellow fall coloring. I haven't seen this tree get the typical grayish tinted white bark … Whitespire birch trees (Betula platyphylla japonica 'Whitespire') are deciduous trees with an annual growth rate of 12 to 18 inches. It's easy to understand why the Heritage® River Birch is such a popular tree. One big strong guy can carry this potted tree but better if two people work together! Soil/Climate: Gray birch is native to eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. It has a wonderful yellow fall color. The bright green leaves rustle i Simple, alternate leaves; 2 to 3 inches long.Dark green, triangular-shaped, shiny, pendulous  leaves.Margins are double serrated, leaf tip is long and pointed.Yellow fall color. Whitespire Birch is very adaptable preferring moist, well drained, slightly acidic soils. Growth Rate: Fast. Whitespire Birch is our only recommended white-barked birch because of its resistance to bronze birch borer and Japanese beetle. If you are a gardener who loves to prune, don't select a white birch tree for your backyard. This is a cultivar of a tree native to the northeastern United States. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. Height: 20-40ftSpread: 10-20ftZone: 3-6Exposure: Full sun to part shadeGrowth Rate: ModerateBloom Time/Color: N/AFall Color: YellowUses: Specimen, shade treeMaintenance: HighTree Shape: Narrow, pyramidalOther: Deer resistant, winter interest, native. Shows some resistance to the bronze birch borer. These trees have their own charms, however. A medium sized tree tolerant of hot, dry summers and poor soils. Native to China. A Whitespire birch "standard" is where there is only one trunk on the tree… Native geographic location and habitat. 'Whitespire' is fairly tolerant of drought and poor soils as well. However you first fell in love with Whitespire Birch (Betula populifolia 'Whitespire'), it makes a fabulous, fine-textured accent tree. Fast grower to 35 to 40 feet tall, 18 to 20 feet wide; larger with age. Whether you plant European white birch (Betula pendula) or paper birch (Betula papyrifera), your pruners will sit on the shelf most of the time. Exposure: Full sun to part shade. Whitespire Birch is extremely versatile and can be used nearly anywhere in the landscape. A 3-year study was conducted to evaluate growth and survival of trees grafted onto five species of birch rootstocks. Full sun. They are characterized by their non-peeling white bark with black patches and pointed, triangular-shaped glossy green leaves that turn golden yellow in fall. Japanese beetle is also a serious problem on this tree. Bark color and texture Simple, alternate leaves; 2 to 3 inches long. Birch, Whitespire The Whitespire Birch, Betula populifolia ‘Whitespire’, is an Ed Hasselkus from the University of Wisconsin-Madison introduction with chalk-white bark that does not exfoliate. Growth Rate: Moderate. Our Whitespire Birch grown in clump form (three stems) averages 8 to 10' tall with good stem caliper. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. Growth Rate: Moderate: Shape: Upright, Pyramidal : Whitespire Japanese Birch likes full sun and is adapted to a wide range of soils. When To Prune Birch Trees. There are many varieties of birch trees – paper, gray, yellow, river, and white birch – though the paper birch is perhaps the most distinctive, with its curling white bark. Cold Hardiness-20 to -30° F. Sun Exposure: Full sun. Cylindrical clusters of winged nutlets, borne at end of branches, 2 to 3 inches long. Cultivar 'Whitespire' more desirable than the species. Keeping a Fantastic Birch Bark A great tree to give a natural look to the landscape. At a minimum, wear a visor to prevent wood chips damaging the eyes, chain saw trousers and boots to protect your legs from accidental contact with the chain, and strong gloves to protect your hands from scrapes against the tree. use escape to move to top level menu parent. Mature Height: commonly 20-30′ tall with fast growth rate. Where to put it: Whitespire Birch is extremely versatile … Avoid pruning birches in spring as they are bleeders (will lose quantities of sap). Our future. The Morton Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on the generosity of members and donors. Height: 20-40ft. Perform… In St. Louis, gray birch is best grown in medium to wet, well-drained, sandy or rocky loams in full sun to part shade. 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. Water Needs: Medium to high. Tree & Plant Care. It has fine textured twigs and foliage and beautiful chalk white bark. Zone: 3-6. Our communities. This cultivar demonstrates good resistance to bronze birch borer (BBB). Reply Trish B June 22, 2019 at 10:41 pm. The most narrow growing of all birches. This plant is a cultivar of a species that is native to the Chicago region according to Swink and Wilhelm's Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current research. The chalky white bark, fluttery leaves and crisp, clean form are hard to miss. japonica Hara.) The objectives of this study were to evaluate survival, growth, rootstock suckering, and short-term graft compatibility of ‘Whitespire’ Japanese birch … Within a submenu, use escape to move to top level menu parent. Jun 27, 2016 - This is a grafted birch, so all trees grow uniform and identical. Cut a 6- to 8-inch-long green branch tip, making the cut just below a leaf node. Will tolerate temperatures of -30 to 120 deg. Budded and tissue culture. It is now assigned to Betula populifolia and the plants are often sold under the name 'Whitespire Senior' to avoid confusion. And others grow as classic single-trunk trees. Cultivar 'Whitespire' more desirable than the species.Avoid pruning birches in spring as they are bleeders (will lose quantities of sap).Best planted  in spring. Graceful, open-branched pyramidal form. Whitespire Birch. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. Natural Areas Conservation Training Program, Black walnut toxicity (plants tolerant of), Preventing construction damage to trees and shrubs, Trees and shrubs for the four seasons landscape, Sudden Oak Death, Ramorum Blight and Phytophthora ramorum, Eastern United States Wetlands Collection. You can search, browse, and learn more about the plants in our living collections by visiting our BRAHMS website. It is a deciduous tree with a strong central leader and has a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Avoid pruning birches in spring as they are 'bleeders' and will lose a great deal of sap. Cultivars are plants produced in cultivation by selective breeding or via vegetative propagation from wild plants identified to have desirable traits. The name 'Whitespire' was incorrectly assigned to Betula platyphylla. About Whitespire Birch Clump. This birch tree is tolerant of most soil conditions and considered to be resistant to bronze birch borer. Whitespire Senior gray birch, Whitespire birch. Explore. Other common names:Gray Birch. The species, Betula populifolia, or gray birch, is a short-lived, narrow-columnar, suckering, deciduous tree that typically grows to 20-40’ tall. There are many variables and growing conditions that could affect the growth rate of a tree. For example, while river birch (Betula nigra) grows throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9 and can grow over … Resistant to bronze birch borer and air pollution. `Whitespire' Japanese birch ( Betula platyphylla var. Remove all the leaves from the bottom 3 inches of the cutting. Bloom Time: Mar-Apr. A white barked birch that is tolerant to heat temperatures and is resistant to bronze birch borer. Whitespire has a beautiful spire-like upright form, white non-exfoliating bark and excellent bronze birch borer resistance. Fast growing trees give homeowners the opportunity to realize the benefits of a mature tree sooner. Exhibits the brightest white bark of any tree for a truly distinctive and exciting show! Have tree and plant questions? It is now assigned to Betula populifolia and the plants are often sold under the name 'Whitespire Senior' to avoid confusion. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Avoid pruning in spring when the sap is running. Due to susceptibility to bronze birch borer (BBB), European white birch is not recommended for planting anywhere in this region and usually require removal and/or replacement. Disease, pests, and problems. Yellow autumn leaves. Bloom Time/Color: N/A. Gray birch prefers sunlight and is shade intolerant. For starters, it's resistant to common diseases, grows up to 2 to 3 feet each year, and adapts to a variety of soil types. Add to Cart Wishlist . Although the success rate is usually only about 50 percent, birch trees can sometimes be propagated by rooting branch cuttings. Inconspicuous;  male flowers in cylindrical catkins; females also in a cylindrical structure, but much smaller. Monrovia's Purple Rain® European White Birch details and information. Fall Color: Yellow. It takes 150 years to grow four inches. Stop by, email, or call. Spread: 10-20ft. Growth Rate: Medium fast. Use of this tree is limited by its susceptibility to bronze birch borer. Description. Birches do not transplant easily. How to Grow Birch Trees. It is not tolerant of flooding of any long duration. Explore this online platform for Chicago-area residents to share their favorite stories about trees. Young trees have a reddish-brown color, older trees develop a chalky white bark that does not peel. Maybe you've admired the pretty deciduous tree 3 blocks over. The following menu has 3 levels. Originally Margins are double serrated, leaf tip is long and pointed. It seems to tolerate drier soils in its native range. Gray Birch is more resistant to borers than other white birches, but tends to be short-lived for a tree of about 30 to 50 years. This tree grows at a medium to fast rate, with height increases of anywhere from 13" to more than 24" per year. Building the urban forest for 2050. Propagating a Paper Birch Tree . Use enter to activate. The name 'Whitespire' was incorrectly assigned to Betula platyphylla.. Make sure to plant this tree where soil is likely to remain cool. In the St. Louis area, it is best sited in a northern or eastern exposure that receives some afternoon shade. Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales. Dazzling white bark from ground level which is maintained into old age. river birch and, to a lesser extent, on European birch rootstocks can enhance flood tolerance over trees on ‘Whitespire’ rootstocks (Ranney and Bir, 1994). The Whitespire Birch is a great hybrid birch tree with snowy white bark and good fall color. The slowest-growing tree is said to be the cedar tree. Tall and stately, Whitespire's showy bark does not exfoliate or peel. It is a single-stemmed tree with yellow-bronze bark that peels in narrow horizontal strips. This cultivar demonstrates good resistance to bronze birch borer (BBB). Consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist. From top level menus, use escape to exit the menu. It thrives under a wide range of soil conditions. This Birch has dark green foliage throughout the season. Guarantee: Earl May Nursery Stock Guarantee Leaf Color: Green. Leaves are glossy, dark green turning yellowish-green in fall. River Birch. Maintenance: low. Considered to have a short life span. Size C Trees: Our Whitespire Birch grown in clump form (three stems) averages 10-12' tall and very heavy stem caliper to 2". It needs little pruning, but if necessary, prune during the dormant season. 'Whitespire' gray birch is a very popular tree in the Midwest because of its aspen-like white bark that provides winter interest and interesting landscape value. It shoots up to its mature height of 50 to 90 feet with an annual growth rate averaging 36 inches per growing season. Young trees have a reddish-brown color, older trees develop a chalky white bark that does not peel.Black triangular patches form on bark, under branches. Betula populifolia 'Whitespire'. Deciduous. Apr 24, 2014 - Why it rocks: Whitespire Birch has a nice narrow, pyramidal size and a chalky white bark that looks great all season long. Saved by Stuber Land Design. I have 3 Whitespire Birch clumps (Betula Platyhylla) that I planted about 8 years ago. Yellow birch, named for the color of its bark, is a relatively long-lived birch which typically grows 150 years and may even grow up to 300 years in old-growth forests. Get expert help from The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. The species is noted for its non-peeling chalky white bark and its long-pointed triangular green leaves. Whitespire Birch will grow to be about 40 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 26 feet. They all leaved out this year but one tree's leaves are starting to turning yellow. Natively, it prefers moist/wet conditions in well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. Our trees. Brown or green catkins can be present throughout the growing season and are quite ornamental. Browse the curated collection and add your voice! Dark green, triangular-shaped, shiny, pendulous  leaves. Plus, it's an elegant source of shade, with unique peeling bark that stands out in your landscape. This tree also features interesting catkins which grace the tree in the summer. Classic, Fast-Growing Ornamental Tree Why Heritage® River Birch Trees? The pointy leaves turn an outstanding yellow in the fall. A medium sized tree tolerant of hot, dry summers and poor soils.Considered to have a short life span. It also tolerates poor soils. Good white bark with dark green leaves turning yellow in the fall. 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