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Asian White Birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica) is a graceful deciduous tree prized for its brilliant white bark, elegant upright form and luminous spring foliage. Native across Japan, Korea, northeast China and eastern Siberia, also into western Canada, it has long been admired as one of Asia's finest ornamental birches. Fresh light-green leaves emerge early in spring with a delicate translucent glow before turning rich golden yellow in autumn, while the striking white trunk provides outstanding interest throughout winter.
Need help? Visit our care & planting instructions and autumn foliage guide for practical advice.
- Flowers: Slender yellow-brown male catkins with smaller upright female catkins; spring (September–October).
- Size: About 15–20 m × 6–10 m (occasionally taller under ideal conditions).
- Uses: Feature tree, avenue planting, parks, woodland gardens, and shelterbelts.
- Attributes: Fast growing, hardy, reliable and long-lived; best suited to cool temperate climates and well-drained soils.
- Features: Brilliant white bark remaining clean near the base of the trunk; coarse light-green foliage; attractive golden autumn colour; early leaf emergence; decorative catkins.
- Also known as: Japanese White Birch, many other common names and botanical synonyms; Betula platyphylla japonica; Betula platyphylla; formerly Betula japonica; currently treated by Kew and the RHS as Betula pendula subsp. mandshurica.
Keep your collection labelled. Add a durable engraved plant label to your order, and order extra labels for existing plants so every tree in your collection stays correctly named.
References incl:
McAllister, H. A., Ashburner, K., Bartlett, P. & Deasy M. (2026), 'Betula pendula' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online. Accessed 23/7/2026.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (2026). Plants of the World Online: Betula platyphylla var. japonica.
Royal Horticultural Society. (2026). Betula pendula subsp. mandshurica (syn. Betula platyphylla var. japonica).
Oregon State University. Landscape Plants: Betula platyphylla.
Images: McAllister, H. A., Ashburner, K., Bartlett, P. & Deasy M. (2026), 'Betula pendula' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online. Accessed 23/7/2026. Group of trees by Owen Johnson. Tree trunk by Julian Sutton
- Height:
- Medium
