Betula utilis var. prattii - Himalayan Birch

The Betula utilis var. prattii is a beautiful uncommon birch tree, native to the Chinese side of the Himalayas, whose bark turns chestnut red after 2 to 4 years of cultivation. It forms a small to medium-sized tree with an upright habit. Its loose foliage provides light shade in summer, and its leaves turn golden yellow in autumn. Its unusual-coloured bark is very attractive when planted next to a birch tree with white or silver bark.

The Himalayan birch, in Latin Betula utilis, belongs to the Betulaceae family. It is native to Western Asia, from Afghanistan to western China and northwest India. The Betula utilis var. prattii is a subspecies native to the Chinese side of the Himalayas, distinguished by its chestnut red bark that peels off in patches. The trunk shows narrow and horizontal scars, called lenticels, arranged in a regular pattern. Highly cold-resistant, this birch tree exhibits vigorous growth and reaches a height of 10 to 15 meters at maturity, with a width of 6 meters. It has a slightly conical habit with an open, somewhat loose, and slightly spreading crown. It will develop a single trunk that branches out more or less low, sometimes growing into a multi-stemmed tree. Its leaves are deciduous, falling in autumn and reappearing each spring. Its branches bear ovate-shaped leaves, entire and pointed, finely toothed at the edges, measuring 5 to 7 cm long and 4 to 5 cm wide. The lamina is a fairly dark green, shiny on the upper side, paler and duller on the underside. The foliage turns golden yellow in autumn before falling off. The inconspicuous flowering occurs in March-April, with drooping yellow-brown catkins. Its shallow root system makes it sensitive to prolonged drought and strong winds, which can uproot it. This species is well-suited to northern gardens and montane climates. It prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soils, but can tolerate the presence of limestone and moister soils.

The main attraction of Betula utilis var. prattii is its stunning peeling bark in coloured patches throughout the year, particularly spectacular in winter when the tree is leafless. It is mainly planted as a solitary specimen or in small clusters, in a strategic location in the garden that allows the gardener to admire its silhouette from a window. In a contemporary garden, it can be planted alongside Himalayan white birches or Betula pendula 'Royal Frost'. To accompany it, astilbes, hostas, and ferns can be planted nearby if the soil remains consistently moist.