12-18m. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Benefits: textured bark, good for heavy soil. Silver birch and Himalayan birch are both available as columnar 'Fastigiata' varieties, which have a much smaller spread than other bird trees and are ideal for smaller gardens. 9-15m. Discover some of the most glorious gardens from around the world.Find out more, Already have an account with us? Give your garden a makeover and save money at the same time with a special Thompson and Morgan offer of 10% off. I agree with Dove - silver birch is a big tree and not suited to a small garden. This contrasts brilliantly against the dark tracery of twiggy branches overhead and in winter these trees can look like finely chiselled charcoal sketches. If you’re looking for precise, true-to-type features, then it is best to select from mature trees that already show that trait. Has a medium-spreading crown and excellent autumn leaf colour. Medium sized with a slender habit. B. alleghaniensis, B. dahurica and B. nigra are excellent choices for damp (but not waterlogged) soils, but site away from frost pockets and provide shelter from cold winds. Expect to see the following options (listed by increasing quality and value): bare root (soil shaken from roots when harvested), rootball (supplied with soil around roots), plastic-container grown, bagged (grown, or stabilised in bags for at least four months) or grown in Air-Pots (containers designed to promote fibrous roots). USDA 2a-9b. garden advice & tips|plants|winter garden|autumn garden|garden ideas|fruit & veg|garden wildlife. We are here for you. AGM. USDA 6a-9b. Many of the characteristics of birch don’t show themselves in saplings, so you need to be very careful when choosing your tree. Choose either deep-pink Cyclamen coum, or dusky hybrid hellebores or purple crocus - keeping the planting simple. It’s a key woodland pioneer species but as a choice for our gardens, it’s really about the bark. 9-15m. A striking cultivar selected at Stone Lane Gardens with dark-purple and orange peeling bark and prominent bands of lenticels. jacquemontii cultivars. Forms a medium-sized tree and has very glossy leaves. Silver Birches can brighten a garden during the winter Silver birches are among the best trees for small gardens since they never produce too dense … This is one of the starkest whites of all the B. utilis var. Val Bourne recommends the best birch trees and explains how to choose one. Those on heavy soil should do well with this. The bark, which takes two to three years to fully develop, is a lovely pale colour with hints of warm orange and rosy red that appear to almost glow. If you're used to buying our magazine from the shops, you can now order and receive the next issue delivered to your home. Cultivated for its superb, smooth, reddish-brown bark, slender growth and lightly spreading crown, this Himalayan birch is especially captivating when the scrolls of bark are illuminated by low winter sun. Your budget will no doubt guide your choice. (pictured above) 9-12m. Birches are generally exceptionally hardy and relatively easy to grow in sun to light dappled shade, on most soils, dry or damp. Give your ornamental birches an annual wash with a soft brush or sponge. USDA 2a-9b. The bark of birch trees comes in many more colours and textures than you might think and has a haunting beauty. USDA hardiness rating 4a-7b. A native silver birch is a good choice for a wildlife garden as the tree supports over 300 species of insects, including buff tip moths and angle shades moths. Planting in full sun may encourage production of betulin (the chalky white ‘bloom’ that gives birch barks its unique appearance), though this is speculative. Prepare the ground well and dig in some bone meal. Has a stately habit, long catkins in late spring and golden autumn leaf colour.