Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii 12ltr pot

Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii — West Himalayan Birch — 12ltr Pot

The species behind so many of the finest ornamental birch cultivars, Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii — the West Himalayan or Kashmir birch — is a real showstopper in its own right. Brilliant white bark covers the trunk and larger branches, peeling away in fine papery layers to reveal fresh white beneath, and provides genuine year-round drama, especially through the bare winter months. Ovate leaves turn a clear yellow in autumn, and yellow-brown male catkins up to 12cm long open in early spring.

A vigorous, large deciduous tree, this species makes an excellent specimen for bigger gardens or parkland, and is particularly striking when planted in small groups, where the luminous white trunks create a dramatic effect together — a look often seen in larger landscape and woodland-edge planting.

Grow in full sun or partial shade, in any reasonably fertile, moist but well-drained soil — this variety tolerates chalk, clay, loam and sand. It's fully hardy (RHS H7), copes with both exposed and sheltered sites, and needs only minimal pruning once established, best carried out between late summer and midwinter to avoid heavy sap "bleeding."

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch, supplied in a 12-litre pot ready for planting straight into its final position.