Silver Birch

Silver Birch 'Moss White' (Betula pendula 'Moss White') is a selection made for one thing: bark as close to pure white as a birch gets. It grows quickly to about 10m tall and only 4m wide, so the trunk stays the feature. Leaves turn clear yellow before they drop, and the bare white stems carry the winter.

Why you'll love it

• Bright white bark. Chosen for bark colour, and it holds it far better than a seedling birch.
• Tall and narrow. Real height on a block with no width to spare, and the light canopy still lets plantings grow underneath.
• Fast for a feature tree. A young tree looks like a birch within a few seasons rather than a decade.
• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats and dogs.

Where it works best

Groves and mass planting. Birch look best in odd numbered groups. Set them 2m apart so the trunks read as one stand of white stems.

Feature planting. A single tree in lawn, seen against a dark hedge or wall, uses the white bark to full effect.

Driveways and avenues. For a formal run, space trees 4m to 5m apart. The narrow crown means the avenue does not close over the drive.

Growing Silver Birch in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade in cool temperate and cooler warm temperate gardens: Tasmania, Victoria, the highlands and tablelands, the Adelaide Hills and cooler parts of Western Australia. It struggles in hot humid climates, so the subtropics and tropics are not for it. Frost hardy and wind tolerant.

Soil. Moist, well structured soil. It is wet feet tolerant, so a damp corner that defeats other trees suits it, though not permanent bog.

Water and feed. Birch are shallow rooted and will not carry themselves through a dry summer. Deep soak weekly through the warm months for the first three years, and water mature trees in drought. Mulch 75mm deep and feed once in early spring.

Pruning. Prune in late summer or autumn, never in late winter or spring when rising sap makes cuts bleed heavily. Lift the lower branches gradually to show the trunk.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in 400mm, 45L, 500mm and 200L. The 400mm and 45L trees are the usual starting point, already beginning to show white bark. The 500mm and 200L specimens arrive as substantial trees.

A tree delivered outside the growing season may arrive leafless, which is normal for a deciduous tree and not a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Deciduous or evergreen: choosing the right tree
• Compare deciduous trees
• Browse plants with autumn colour
• Feature trees for a front garden

Common questions

Will it grow in Brisbane or Sydney?

Brisbane is unsuitable and coastal Sydney is marginal. Silver birch needs a cool climate with reliable moisture.

How far apart should I plant a grove?

Two metres apart for a grove of three or five trees. They compete slightly, which keeps each trunk slender.

When does the bark turn white?

Give it two to three years. Young stems start pale brown and the white develops as the outer bark matures, so an advanced tree already shows it.

Are the roots a problem near pipes or paving?

Shallow and fibrous rather than deeply invasive, but they spread widely in search of moisture. Allow about 3m of clearance from paving and avoid planting over a drainage line.