Betula kweichowensis

RHS Plant Profile
Kweichow birch

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Betula kweichowensis?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants

Synonyms

Betula insignis

Trees
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
1 Suppliers

A medium-sized deciduous tree to a height of over 10m, with oval green leaves up to 16cm long. The young foliage has bronze tints. In autumn these turn butter yellow and orange in warm position. The bark is grey-brown, fissured, with pronounced lenticels

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Clay

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
wider than 8 metres
Max Height
8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Clay
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH
Neutral or Acid or Alkaline

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or North–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Betulaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Spreading branched
Genus
Betula can be deciduous trees or shrubs, usually colouring well in autumn and often with striking white, pink, or peeling brown bark; separate male and female catkins open before or with the leaves in spring
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in damp soil, in a sunny, sheltered position. Does not tolerate drought well

Propagation

Propagate by seed, softwood cuttings or grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1; birches bleed heavily, prune only when fully dormant from late summer to before mid-winter

Pests

May be susceptible to birch borers, leaf-mining sawflies and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus, a tree rust and powdery mildews