With its pure white bark, shiny green leaves and yellow autumn colour, the Japanese White Birch is one of the most ornamental birch trees. There are many landscape uses for this beautiful specimen, including an excellent lawn tree, shade tree, specimen for showy bark or near a patio.

This large deciduous tree has a fast growth rate and can reach heights of about 40-50 feet. During the summer its dark green leaf color contrasts nicely with its white bark to give the tree a very showy appearance. Autumn foliage turns to a pleasing yellow before leaf drop occurs.

Japanese White Birches are easy to grow, adaptable to many soil conditions. They are very hardy with a good tolerance to high temperatures. The beautiful white bark of the Birch makes it very desirable for any garden it is also a suitable and interesting plant to grow as bonsai.

Sowing: Store seeds in the fridge or a cool dry location until you are ready to sow. These seeds need a period of cold to break their dormancy and enable them to germinate. There are two methods – The seeds can be left to go through the seasons naturally or germination hastened by “Stratifying”.

Sowing In Autumn - The “Natural” Method” Sow outside in the autumn in a cold frame for germination in spring. Sow at around 16-21°C (60-70°F) using John Innes seed compost, or something similar. Press the seeds into the compost and “Just cover” as they need light for germination. Place each container in a polythene bag or cover with glass or clear plastic. Place the containers outside in a cold frame or plunge them up to the rims in a sheltered part of the garden border. Germination can be erratic, Transplant when large enough to handle.

Sowing at all other times of year - “Hastening Germination” with stratification. Place the seeds in a plastic bag or small container filled with slightly moist seed compost or vermiculite that has been sprayed with a fungicide product to help prevent mildew. Put the bag or container into the refrigerator at -4*C (39*F), this is the usual temperature that fridges are kept at, or somewhere with a similar temperature for 12 weeks. Check seeds periodically, transplant any that have germinated. After 8 weeks, sow the seeds and place in a room with temperatures of around 16 -21°C (60-70°F).

Growing: Germination can be erratic from 30 to 90 days, it is important to keep the seeds moist during this period. When seedlings are large enough to handle, prick out into individual pots and grow them on in bright lights, ideally under grow lights. You should only keep seedlings inside for 6-8 weeks unless you have a cool environment with bright light. Birches are cold hardy, but young trees may need protection from winds to prevent loss of branches.

Transplanting: Transplant to a larger container containing compost outside or in a coldframe after this initial growth period. If grown in containers, birches younger than age 10 will need repotting every two to three years. Repot in spring using a free draining soil mix.

Cultivation: Access to adequate moisture is critical for healthy birches. They like frequent watering although they should not be left to stand in water. Birches like a lot of sunlight; an ideal location is one which allows the crown access to sunlight, yet where the base of the tree is sheltered from extreme heat. Birches have a preference for slightly acidic soil although alkaline soil will work in combination with periodic fertiliser treatments. Use care when operating lawn mowers around the base of birch trees. The bark is easily damaged and open wounds are an open invitation for insects and disease. Pruning of birches causes high sap flow which is attractive to migrating beetles. If necessary, prune in the autumn, during the tree’s dormancy period.