The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Looking for a fast-growing tree that offers year-long interest?
Himalayan birch,Betula jacquemontii,has a pyramidal shape, with branches that extend upward and open.
Yellowish-brown male flowers in 3- to 5-inch drooping catkins appear in the spring.
The tree attractspollinatorsand supports the larvae of the eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus).
Leaves resemble slightly rounded ovate wedges, 2 to 3 inches wide.
Plant the tree in cool weather in the spring or fall.
To welcome Himalayan birch into your garden, plant it in cool weather.
The tree quickly spreads up to 35 feet wide and grows 40 to 50 feet tall.
Provide plenty of space to let it grow freely and adorn the garden with its snowy white framework.
Afternoon shade can be beneficial in shading the shallow roots, especially in the hotter areas of Zone 7.
Like other birches, its roots are shallow.
Plant in a low-traffic spot.
After planting, cover the planting area with mulch to help keep the roots cool and moist.
Consider companion plants such as evergreen groundcovers, which will protect and shade the roots further.
Water
Himalayan birch can tolerate very wet soil.
It is often used in wetland restoration.
In well-draining soils, it can grow up to 18 inches per year.
Use a soaker hose to establish strong roots during its first year.
Birch trees prefer cooler summer weather; the 65-to-80-degree Fahrenheit range is ideal for them.
Extremely hot weather, above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, can damage the tree and stunt its growth.
These trees thrive in average humidity.
Prune in late autumn or winter, never spring because of running sap.
Growing them in containers is not recommended.
Overwintering
Himalayan birch is a hardy tree that and an established tree will handle winter just fine.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Hot or humid conditions can often affect birch.
Aphids, birch leaf miners, and birch skeletonizers pose minor and less frequent problems.
(If the ground is sticky beneath the tree, this could be excrement from aphid feeding.)
Generally, when a birch tree is stressed by insects, it is more susceptible to cankers.
A well-tended tree can live between 30 and 40 years.
During the first season or so, keeping it indoors with warmer temperatures is recommended.
There are numerous othervarieties of birch treesfor growing zones.
These include paper birch, sweet birch, yellow birch, and grey birch.
The water birch is especially hardy and almost immune to infestations of boring insects.
Bronze Birch Borer.PennState University Extension
