Barcham's Birches

We believe we currently have the best collection of birches in the UK – and we have certainly never seem them looking better! This season, virtually all our birches have made a great deal of growth, which proves how well these trees, with their sensitive root systems, respond to being grown in our famous white bags.

A spectacular autumn display is on the cards from these beautiful and elegant trees. Some of the highlights of our range include:

Betula utilis Jacquemontii which is such a great favourite with the landscaping world. This white birch is fast becoming “the new black” to coin a phrase, and small wonder! It can give any scheme a clean, crisp, dramatic look. A medium sized tree, its cinnamon-orange branches contrast so well with its white, peeling trunk. Leaves will soon be turning a golden yellow.

Betula nigra is also known as the River Birch or Red Birch. A native of the river banks of the south eastern United States, it understandably does best in moist soils. Its shaggy, flaking cinnamon-orange bark gives a great display, and this small to medium tree is a good choice for parks and wide verges.

Betula pubescens seems to thrive in virtually all soils.Also known as the Common White Birch or Downy Birch, it differs from the Silver Birch, with which it was once classified, by having darker bark, downy shoots and not having pendulous branches.

Betula pendula Tristis is the Weeping Birch, a most graceful tall tree, which maintains its central leader and is superb planted as a specimen. We feel it looks at its most dramatic during the winter months.

Betula pendula Youngii is a much smaller weeping birch. Ideal as a specimen in a lawn, its branches will eventually reach the ground. Young’s Weeping Birch shows very good autumn colour.

Betula ermanii gives a display of clear yellow foliage through autumn, set against its peeling, creamy bark, which is tinted with pink. Originally from East Asia, it keeps its conical habit if the central leader is retained. Unfussy as to soil type, we recommend this birch for urban plantings.

The best way of appreciating all our wide selection of birches is to arrange a visit to our nursery to see them in their autumn glory.