Monarch Birch Betula maximowicziana

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 maximowicziana, or Monarch Birch, is an upright, pyramidal tree (although becoming more rounded and irregular as it matures) that can reach 80 to 100 feet high, but is typically 40 to 60 feet in cultivation. The leaves of the Monarch Birch are the largest of any birch, up to 6 inches long and 4 inches wide. This plant has reddish-brown bark when the branches are young, but mature to gray or white. The quality of the white bark depends on the quality of the seed source and good white bark color may not develop on all specimens. The plant is noted for it colorful yellow fall foliage.

Monarch Birch is relatively rare, but appears to tolerate a range of soil types and urban conditions. As with most birches, it is likely best grown in moist, acidic, sandy or rocky, well-drained loams in full sun to part shade. Birches do best in cool northern climates where summer temperatures rarely exceed 75 degrees F. and where root zones are generally covered with snow throughout the winter. Monarch Birch is not recommended for areas south of USDA zone 6. 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, tend to grow quickly when young. 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:

Unlike most birches, Monarch Birch appears to be resistant to bronze birch borer which infects and kills trees. Aphids, leaf miner and birch skeletonizer, however, may occur. Watch for leaf spot problems.