Its trunk is a pristine chalk-white, set off in autumn by ovate leaves turning a magnificent yellow, and in early spring by yellow-brown male catkins up to five inches long. The Himalayan birch (Betula utilis var. jacquemontii) is grown above all for that bark: give it fertile, well-drained soil free of chalk and full sun, and growth is fast.
| Name | Betula utilis jacquemontii |
|---|---|
| Family | Betulaceae |
| Type | tree |
| Foliage | deciduous |
| Height | 32 to 36 feet (10 to 12 meters) |
| Width | 20 to 25 feet (7 to 8 m) |
| Exposure | Sun to part sun |
| Soil | any type but chalky, well drained |
| Hardiness | hardy |
| Growth | fast when not in limestone |
| Flowering | spring |
The first thing you’ll notice about Betula utilis jacquemontii is its trunk. It’s a pristine white color! It brings to mind images of the Eternal Snows atop the peaks of the Himalayas, which explains why in some parts it’s known as the Himalaya birch.
Also of interest is the foliage: it matures into a darker green hue than that of other birches. In fall, the ovate leaves slowly take on a magnificent yellow color.
As for the flowering, jacquemontii is covered in many catkins at the beginning of spring. Male ones are yellow-brown, and up to 5 inches long (12 cm). Female ones are shaped like green panicles forming near-perfect cylinders. Fruits, when they form, are about 2 inches long (5 cm). These are short cone-shaped tubes. The scales open up one after the other to release little, winged seeds.
Did you know ? Betula utilis earned that name because it has many uses: from paper pulp to umbrellas, shingles on rooftops… and more!
Nurseries sell several selections of Himalayan birch chosen for the whiteness of the trunk, alongside a few other birches grown for their bark. The choice usually comes down to how bright the bark is and how much room you have.
| Variety | Bark | Mature height | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘Silver Shadow’ | Dazzling white, large drooping leaves | About 8 m | Smaller gardens and courtyards |
| ‘Doorenbos’ (syn. ‘Snow Queen’) | Brilliant chalk-white, peeling early | About 12 m | Standalone specimen or a group of three |
| ‘Heritage’ | Peeling cream, salmon and cinnamon | About 15 m | Damp ground where white birches struggle |
| ‘Grayswood Ghost’ | Very white, with glossy dark leaves | About 12 m | Winter interest against a dark backdrop |
| ‘Jermyns’ | Pure white, unusually long male catkins | About 12 m | Avenues and alignments |
| ‘Youngii’ | White, on a mushroom-headed weeping frame | 5 to 8 m | Small lawns where height is limited |
Betula utilis jacquemontii is a vigorous birch variety that will adapt to any situation. Of course, it’ll fare better in some spots and less well in others. If you want to spur quick growth, favor fertile, non-chalky soil. Soil must be moist, without, however, retaining water. It’s thus important to ensure proper drainage. Lastly, regarding exposure: select for it a sun-filled, luminous setting: the flashy white trunk will be all the more admirable!
It’s possible to plant jacquemontii in spring. But to be fair, planting in fall is better both to ensure it settles in well, and to avoid having to water during that first summer.
The planting itself will differ a bit depending on how your tree was sold to you:
Apart from these two cases, planting a Betula utilis jacquemontii is pretty straightforward:
The finishing touch to make your planting perfect is to apply a thick layer of mulch that will retain moisture in the soil.
Monitor the watering for the first few years of growth of the tree: especially during heat waves. Pruning won’t be necessary: let your jacquemontii surprise you as each of its branches reaches for the sky. If need be, for instance if ever a branch gets too large or in the way of something else, it’s possible to proceed to a light pruning.
There are two ways to get new specimens from your existing Betula utilis jacquemontii:
We’ve said it was a vigorous tree, but Betula jacquemontii is sadly vulnerable to powdery mildew and to rust. As for predator insects, you’ll have to deal with aphids, thrips and sawflies may weaken the tree if there are too many of them.
Betula utilis jacquemontii will excel in many situations: as a standalone, in clusters, or to form an alignment. In every case, your goal should be to highlight its main asset: the trunk.
To push the point and highlight the beautiful white trunk (especially in winter), set it up in front of a screen of trees or shrubs with beautiful colored bark such as red and yellow dogwood (Cornus alba, C. sanguinea, C. sericea) or trees with a different style such as white willow (which has yellow bark): Salix alba.
