Himalayan birch tree UK: Buying and care guide

The Himalayan birch tree is elegant and beautiful, known for its spectacular white bark and lovely leaves turning a clear yellow in autumn with yellow-brown catkins appearing in early spring.

Birches are a massive hit with garden designers right now, and no wonder – they're perfect for even a modest-sized, modern plot as they don't grow too tall and don't cast large shade. And the Himalayan birch, also known as 'Betula utilis jacquemontii', is all the rage right now.

This deciduous tree that loses its foliage at the end of the autumn can grow to 18m tall, with brilliant white bark on the trunk, large branches, yellow leaves in autumn, and yellow-brown male catkins to 12cm long that open in the early spring.

If you want a Himalayan birch that’s extra special, there are some stunning varieties. Snow Queen is a little smaller at 7m, with intensely golden-yellow leaves in autumn. Grayswood Ghost has ghostly white bark and the green foliage is larger than most varieties, so it’s a great choice to offer shade to a sitting area. And if you’re a catkin lover, choose Silver Shadow which has wonderfully dangly catkins, up to 15cm long.

Here are our favourite varieties of Himalayan birch trees to buy and other helpful products to help your tree thrive for a long-lasting investment in your modern garden.

Where to buy Himalayan birch trees

Himalayan birch trees are available from garden centres and nurseries, as well as online suppliers such as Primrose, Waitrose Gardens and Trees Direct. Select a tree with a good, strong, single, upright main trunk and, if in foliage, a good covering of healthy-coloured leaves. Try to avoid trees with a malformed main trunk and dying off-colour or yellowing leaves. Here is our pick of the best variety of Himalayan birch trees.

When is the best time to plant a Himalayan birch tree

The best time to plant this tree is in the winter. As long as the ground isn’t frozen, January is the optimal time to plant this tree. The tree will most likely be dormant, so your birch will start to grow again by the time the warmer weather arrives.

Your tree is best planted in the ground, but as long as you’re prepared to keep it well watered, it’ll cope with life in a big pot as well. Go for a container that’s at least 45cm in diameter.

How to plant a Himalayan birch tree

Opt for an open, sunny position in your garden for your new tree. As long as it doesn’t dry out in summer or become waterlogged in winter, Himalayan birches aren't too selective about soil. To get plants off to the best start keep the soil moist by digging in compost or other organic matter such as a soil conditioner. If you are using containers, use multipurpose or potting compost.

How to take care of a Himalayan birch tree

It's easy to keep your birch tree tidy and in a shape that fits your garden. If you want a single trunk, then remove any side shoots that may appear at the base of a young tree. If you wish to remove or trim any branches, do your pruning in late summer or early autumn when the sap won't bleed from the cuts.

Birch trees like a bit of moisture around their roots, so be sure to water well whenever the soil or compost starts to dry out, especially during prolonged dry periods. This is important in the first few years – after that, the roots will have grown deep enough into the ground to reach moisture so it’ll be better able to support itself.

Make sure to feed the tree in the spring with a general controlled-release fertiliser like the one we have listed below. The peeling white bark is tactile so give it a gentle rub. This will also help keep the bark clear white by disturbing any green algae that grow on it. If the white trunk is ever a bit grubby, simply give it a quick washdown with warm water on a sponge to remove any algae build-up.

Himalayan birch tree buys

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