Betula szechuanica (09/02/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height:20m
Eventual Spread: 10m
Hardiness: 4a – 9b
Family: Betulaceae
Betula szechuanica is a fast growing deciduous tree with a conical, open habit. Its dark green leaves are ovate with serrate margins, up to 9cm long and 7.5cm broad. Its leaves turn yellow before they fall in autumn. Its chalk white/ pink coloured bark is smooth and flakes in horizontal strips. Its monoecious flowers are in the form of yellow/ green catkins, are wind pollinated and appear at about the same time as its leaves. Its fruit is a cylindrical aggregate and it disintegrates upon maturity.
Betula szechuanica, commonly known as the Sichuan Birch, Szechuan White Birch, Szechuan Birch or Asian White Birch, is native to south west China and eastern Tibet.
The etymological root of the binomial name Betula is the old Latin name for the Birch tree. Szechuanica is derived from the Latin meaning ‘from Sichuan’, China.
The landscape architect may find Betula szechuanica useful as a specimen tree with attractive winter bark.
Betula szechuanica Bark (09/02/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Betula szechuanica provides a valuable source of pollen for insects.
Betula szechuanica prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Betula szechuanica requires little maintenance.
