Betula pendula Tristis - Birch

Betula pendula 'Tristis', also known as Betula pendula subsp. pendula 'Tristis' and Betula pendula 'Boeugh's Variety', is a weeping birch that may be even more endearing than the weeping willow with which it shares a majestic fountain-like appearance. This large deciduous tree is adorned with curtains of perfectly aligned leaves that rustle at the slightest breeze and turn yellow in autumn. It bears smooth, white bark, which retains its beautiful colouration for a very long time despite the passing years. Make room for this tall and beautiful birch. It will adapt to both wet and dry, poor soils, but preferably neutral to acidic ones.

Originally from mainly central Europe and temperate Asia, Betula pendula (synonymous with B. verrucosa), commonly called the Weeping Birch, is a large tree from the Betulaceae family. This light-loving species has a pyramidal habit, a more or less straight trunk, and a generally oval crown, carried by long, almost upright branches that are equipped with pendulous twigs at an acute angle. Its annual growth is about 35 cm (13.8 in) in height and 20 cm (7.9 in) in width. It is extremely cold-resistant. 

The cultivar 'Tristis', discovered in the Netherlands around 1865, is distinguished mainly by its wider, particularly weeping habit and its smooth, white bark, which retains its very light colour for a long time. It will reach an average height of 17 m (55.8 ft) and a width of 8 m (26.2 ft). The trunk carries an upright crown, consisting of large, cascading branches. It is generally oval, irregular, open in structure and elegantly airy. Over time, the bark takes on a more channelled appearance at the base of the trunk and develops deep crevices. The pendulous twigs are reddish-brown and dotted with verrucose lenticels. The deciduous foliage appears early in spring. It consists of triangular leaves, 3 cm to 6 cm (1.2 in to 2.4 in) long, with double-toothed edges, in a tender green colour. They turn a beautiful yellow colour before falling. The discreet flowering occurs in March-April, with yellow-green catkins measuring 1 cm (0.4 in) in length. The root system of this birch is of the taproot type, producing radiating lateral main roots with a very dense network of small surface feeding roots.

Betula pendula 'Tristis' is a tree born for open spaces and light. Superbly structured, its somewhat mysterious white silhouette stands out admirably against a winter sky. In the garden, it requires no maintenance, is extremely cold-resistant, and is not very susceptible to diseases. It deserves and demands a prominent place, as a solitary tree, on the edges of a large garden or in the centre of a low shrub border. The soil at the base of the tree dries out, so choose companion plants adapted to these conditions such as heathers and small grasses like Stipa pennata, Carex, and Ophiopogon. It can also be planted in front of a grove of trees chosen for their foliage or decorative bark, such as Acer griseum or Betula albosinensis. Maples, Nyssa sylvatica, Caramel tree, Chinese Mahogany, or even a white willow will form a superb backdrop for this very beautiful tree.