Woody > Betula > Betula grossa > Betula grossa
Betula grossa
Japanese Cherry Birch
Origin: Japan (Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku) and introduced to the west in 1896.
| Family |
| Betulaceae |
| Genus |
| Betula |
| Species |
| grossa |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 4 - 6 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 5 - 7 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -26 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -15 |
| Height |
| 6-7 m |
| Spread |
| 6-9 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| This birch is a deciduous tree with year-round interest from its light, curly exfoliating bark, deep green leaves in the summer, warm yellow leaves in autumn and the tree's remarkable winter silhouette. |
| Landscape |
| Urban landscape. |
| Cultivation |
| Well-drained, moist soil. Types of soils are sand, clay and loam. Needs partial to full sun and slightly acidic soils (pH 5.0 - 6.5). |
| Shape |
| Spreading open crown upon maturity. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Long catkins that are dark yellow in colour. Short petiole (1.25 - 2.5 cm long) and thin, curly paper bark. |
| Pests |
| Bronze birch borer. |
| Habitat |
| Mountain valleys of Japan. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Redish-brown exterior and soft cherry pink underlay. Light curly paper texture that coarsens with age. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Medium sized buds featuring about 5 silky scales on each. Pigment ranges from green to brown. |
| Leaf Description |
| 8 cm long and about 4 cm wide. Ovate blade form with short double toothed edges. About 10 to 15 veins in pairs. The simple leaf arrangement is alternate. |
| Flower Description |
| Male and female catkins that are long and yellow-brown in colour. |
| Colour Description |
| Medium brown bark with a light cherry pink underlay. Wintergreen stems that hold onto yellowish-brown catkins and dark green leaves that turn yellow in autumn. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts, United States of America. |
References
Michael A. Dirr, M.A.D..(2009). Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Athens, Georgia: Stipes Publishing L.L.C
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