Betula grossa

Betula is Latin for birch and describes a genus of about 60 species of deciduous trees and shrubs found in many gardens and landscapes throughout the northern hemisphere. Betula grossa, or Japanese Cherry Birch, is a conical-shaped tree with cherry-like bark that turn dark grey. It is native to Japan where it is often found growing on slopes in woodlands. The tree casts light shade on understory plants and has shallow roots. It can be propagated by sowing seed in the fall or soft stem cutting in the summer.

Japanese Cherry Birch tolerates a wide range of soil types, but prefers in moist, acidic, sandy loams in full sun to part shade. Best foliage color occurs in full sun, but if the plant is sited in an area of summer heat and humidity, it will appreciate afternoon partial shade. The plant does best in cool northern climates. It is not recommended for planting south of USDA Zone 7 and does best in zones 4 to 4. Keep the tree consistently moist and consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist. It needs little pruning, but if necessary, you can prune during the dormant season. Do not prune in winter or spring when the sap is running because it will bleed.

Birches are considered a "pioneer" species and, thus, tends to grow quickly when young, but Japanese Cherry Birch will take 25 to 50 years to reach its full height of 25 feet.. Tiny monoecious (male and female) flowers appear in early spring in separate catkins on the same tree. Greenish female flowers are followed by drooping cone-like fruits containing numerous small winged seeds that typically mature in late summer.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:

Birches can become stressed by summer heat and humidity. Japanese Cherry Birches are resistant to the bronze birch borer which infects and kills many types of birch trees. However, it is susceptible to aphids, leaf miner and birch skeletonizer. Watch for leaf spot problems.