Betula ermanii - Erman's Birch

Betula ermanii is a shallow rooting medium sized, hardy tree, sometime multi-stemmed, with peeling creamy-white bark on the trunk, papery brown bark on the branches. Coarsely toothed, conspicuously veined ovate leaves turn bright yellow in autumn; male catkins open with the leaves.

Attractive in all seasons, particularly so in winter, especially if set amongst dark evergreens. It has a broadly conical to oval crown which becomes increasingly rounded in maturity. There are many variations producing a variety of sizes as well as bark and colour.

FACT: Birch sap is used in the manufacture of wine and beer in northern Europe, Russia and China. Birch is known as a pioneer species because it easily populates habitats destroyed by fire.