Chinese Red Birch

Betula albosinensis Betulaceae

Growth habit

Tree

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Native distribution

Mountains in West China

Location

Floriculture War Memorial Trail, Hillside Garden

Source of plant

Arborvillage Farm Nursery, Eastern Plant Specialists, Gardens North, US National Arboretum

Description

Tree, 18-25 m; bark peeling, rather thin, orange or red-orange, young bark glaucous; young twigs glandular, pubescent, dark brown and glabrous when mature. Leaves 4-7 cm, narrowly ovate, apex acuminate, base rounded, irregularly biserrate, green tinged yellow above, paler beneath, hairy between veins when young, veins in 10-14 pairs, petiole 6-12mm, silky at first. Male catkins 4-6cm, females 25-37x8mm, solitary or rarely paired. Fruit catkins ovoid-cylindric, 3-4cm, pendulous; nutlets elliptic, 1x0.5mm, wing relatively broad. Zone 7.

USDA Hardiness Zone

7

Special characteristics

bark