However you first fell in love with Whitespire Birch (Betula populifolia 'Whitespire'), it makes a fabulous, fine-textured accent tree. The species, Betula populifolia, or gray birch, is a short-lived, narrow-columnar, suckering, deciduous tree that typically grows to 20-40’ tall. Avoid pruning birches in spring as they are 'bleeders' and will lose a great deal of sap. Our communities. 'Whitespire' is fairly tolerant of drought and poor soils as well. 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. Growth Rate: Moderate: Shape: Upright, Pyramidal : Whitespire Japanese Birch likes full sun and is adapted to a wide range of soils. Classic, Fast-Growing Ornamental Tree Why Heritage® River Birch Trees? It seems to tolerate drier soils in its native range. The Whitespire Birch is a great hybrid birch tree with snowy white bark and good fall color. Growth Rate: Moderate. 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. Water Needs: Medium to high. This tree also features interesting catkins which grace the tree in the summer. Use enter to activate. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. This cultivar demonstrates good resistance to bronze birch borer (BBB). Remove all the leaves from the bottom 3 inches of the cutting. Tree & Plant Care. About Whitespire Birch Clump. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. Monrovia's Purple Rain® European White Birch details and information. It thrives under a wide range of soil conditions. Description. `Whitespire' Japanese birch ( Betula platyphylla var. Bloom Time: Mar-Apr. It needs little pruning, but if necessary, prune during the dormant season. Margins are double serrated, leaf tip is long and pointed. Whitespire Birch is extremely versatile and can be used nearly anywhere in the landscape. Make sure to plant this tree where soil is likely to remain cool. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. The most narrow growing of all birches. 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. I haven't seen this tree get the typical grayish tinted white bark … Considered to have a short life span. Propagating a Paper Birch Tree . Whitespire has a beautiful spire-like upright form, white non-exfoliating bark and excellent bronze birch borer resistance. Native geographic location and habitat. From top level menus, use escape to exit the menu. Whitespire Birch will grow to be about 40 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 26 feet. Whitespire Senior gray birch, Whitespire birch. 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. Leaf Color: Green. Explore this online platform for Chicago-area residents to share their favorite stories about trees. And others grow as classic single-trunk trees. Whitespire Birch. Within a submenu, use escape to move to top level menu parent. Will tolerate temperatures of -30 to 120 deg. Maybe you've admired the pretty deciduous tree 3 blocks over. Gray birch prefers sunlight and is shade intolerant. 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. Tall and stately, Whitespire's showy bark does not exfoliate or peel. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding yellow in the fall. In St. Louis, gray birch is best grown in medium to wet, well-drained, sandy or rocky loams in full sun to part shade. japonica Hara.) Bloom Time/Color: N/A. use escape to move to top level menu parent. It takes 150 years to grow four inches. A medium sized tree tolerant of hot, dry summers and poor soils.Considered to have a short life span. The Morton Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on the generosity of members and donors. Browse the curated collection and add your voice! Other common names:Gray Birch. This cultivar demonstrates good resistance to bronze birch borer (BBB). Deciduous. '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. Yellow autumn leaves. Cylindrical clusters of winged nutlets, borne at end of branches, 2 to 3 inches long. They all leaved out this year but one tree's leaves are starting to turning yellow. 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. Disease, pests, and problems. In the St. Louis area, it is best sited in a northern or eastern exposure that receives some afternoon shade. Japanese beetle is also a serious problem on this tree. Spread: 10-20ft. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. Building the urban forest for 2050. 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. Whitespire Birch is our only recommended white-barked birch because of its resistance to bronze birch borer and Japanese beetle. Explore. Young trees have a reddish-brown color, older trees develop a chalky white bark that does not peel. 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. You can search, browse, and learn more about the plants in our living collections by visiting our BRAHMS website. Growth Rate: Fast. Bark color and texture Cut a 6- to 8-inch-long green branch tip, making the cut just below a leaf node. 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. Add to Cart Wishlist . A Whitespire birch "standard" is where there is only one trunk on the tree… Fall Color: Yellow. Guarantee: Earl May Nursery Stock Guarantee Avoid pruning in spring when the sap is running. A medium sized tree tolerant of hot, dry summers and poor soils. This tree grows at a medium to fast rate, with height increases of anywhere from 13" to more than 24" per year. Where to put it: Whitespire Birch is extremely versatile … Black triangular patches form on bark, under branches. The species is noted for its non-peeling chalky white bark and its long-pointed triangular green leaves. Mature Height: commonly 20-30′ tall with fast growth rate. Our future. The name 'Whitespire' was incorrectly assigned to Betula platyphylla. When To Prune Birch Trees. The slowest-growing tree is said to be the cedar tree. Fast grower to 35 to 40 feet tall, 18 to 20 feet wide; larger with age. 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. The name 'Whitespire' was incorrectly assigned to Betula platyphylla.. There are many variables and growing conditions that could affect the growth rate of a tree. Full sun. Growth Rate: Medium fast. Fast growing trees give homeowners the opportunity to realize the benefits of a mature tree sooner. Zone: 3-6. It is not tolerant of flooding of any long duration. It's easy to understand why the Heritage® River Birch is such a popular tree. Simple, alternate leaves; 2 to 3 inches long. Use of this tree is limited by its susceptibility to bronze birch borer. Whitespire birch trees (Betula platyphylla japonica 'Whitespire') are deciduous trees with an annual growth rate of 12 to 18 inches. river birch and, to a lesser extent, on European birch rootstocks can enhance flood tolerance over trees on ‘Whitespire’ rootstocks (Ranney and Bir, 1994). Originally I have 3 Whitespire Birch clumps (Betula Platyhylla) that I planted about 8 years ago. Resistant to bronze birch borer and air pollution. Budded and tissue culture. 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. Birches do not transplant easily. Natively, it prefers moist/wet conditions in well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Although the success rate is usually only about 50 percent, birch trees can sometimes be propagated by rooting branch cuttings. Whether you plant European white birch (Betula pendula) or paper birch (Betula papyrifera), your pruners will sit on the shelf most of the time. Exhibits the brightest white bark of any tree for a truly distinctive and exciting show! This is a cultivar of a tree native to the northeastern United States. 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. Dark green, triangular-shaped, shiny, pendulous leaves. Have tree and plant questions? Exposure: Full sun to part shade. Reply Trish B June 22, 2019 at 10:41 pm. The birch's canopy spreads 40 … Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. Cultivar 'Whitespire' more desirable than the species. Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales. It is a deciduous tree with a strong central leader and has a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Whitespire Birch is very adaptable preferring moist, well drained, slightly acidic soils. A white barked birch that is tolerant to heat temperatures and is resistant to bronze birch borer. This birch tree is tolerant of most soil conditions and considered to be resistant to bronze birch borer. How to Grow Birch Trees. It is now assigned to Betula populifolia and the plants are often sold under the name 'Whitespire Senior' to avoid confusion. For example, while river birch (Betula nigra) grows throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9 and can grow over … Native to China. It has fine textured twigs and foliage and beautiful chalk white bark. Perform… Consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist. It shoots up to its mature height of 50 to 90 feet with an annual growth rate averaging 36 inches per growing season. Get expert help from The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic. Height: 20-40ft. Keeping a Fantastic Birch Bark A great tree to give a natural look to the landscape. A wonderful large yard tree with terrific yellow fall coloring. The following menu has 3 levels. 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