Betula ermanii Holland - Gold Birch

Betula ermanii 'Holland', is an excellent variety of Birch selected for its more upright and regular habit, widening over time. It has a smooth, cream-white bark with pinkish tones, which peels off in thin yellowish-white strips. The early deciduous foliage is bright green, and turns a beautiful golden colour in autumn. This easy-to-grow tree should be planted in moist soil, either isolated in a lawn or in front of a large group of deciduous or evergreen trees, in full sunlight.

Betula ermanii is a deciduous tree native to mixed forests in Northeast Asia. The habit of this species, which can reach up to 25m (82ft) in height in its natural habitat, is columnar to oval, rounding with age.

The cultivar 'Holland' will reach approximately 15 to 20m (49ft 2in to 65ft 7in) in height and will spread over 8 to 10m (26ft 2in to 32ft 10in). Its semi-open crown consists of loose branches covered with cream-white bark with pinkish tones. Its upright and oval habit is more regular than the species and it tends to spread and round with age. The bark is horizontally striped and peels off in long strips of yellowish-white. Its ovate to triangular, light green leaves measure 8 to 10cm (3.1 to 3.9in) in length and are slightly dentate. They bud early in spring and turn golden yellow early in autumn. The male and female inflorescences appear at the same time as the leaves in the form of pendulous yellow-green catkins. The flowers are highly attractive to bees. The root system of this tree is quite shallow, dense, and composed of secondary roots bearing numerous rootlets. It is advisable to keep this beautiful birch tree away from the house, as strong winds could uproot it, especially when it is in leaf and the soil is wet.

Betula ermanii is a very tolerant species as regards soil, as long as it is not too dry. It does not tolerate coastal winds well. Its main attraction is its bark, but its moderate and slow growth are real assets for medium-sized gardens. However, it will stand out in winter! It can be chosen to be highlighted isolated in the middle of a lawn, where one can enjoy its light shade. This Birch also lends itself to superb combinations with other remarkable plants in winter, such as multicoloured bark Cornus or fragrant winter-flowering Hamamelis. It also allows for contrasting colour combinations, for example, when paired with black Ophiopogon, certain purple Hellebores, or the foliage of 'Black Lace' Elderberry in summer. Its autumn foliage will blend well with that of Nyssa sylvatica in acidic and moist soil, with that of deciduous Viburnums (Viburnum lantana, V. opulus, and its cultivars...), or with Parrotia persica in drier, slightly alkaline soil. It should be given a sunny or semi-shady spot to grow better. The 'Holland' cultivar can be used in alignment along large avenues thanks to its slender habit.