China Ruby

PreviousNext

As the name suggests, China Ruby is a form of the Chinese red birch. It features a papery peeling orange bark, revealing coppery-brown striated new bark underneath, which adds colour to the winter garden.

It also features very long catkins in early spring, and a light summer canopy of green leaves which casts dappled shade. The leaves turn yellow in the autumn.

China Ruby birch trees for sale

All our pot-grown trees are grown for us to our specification by the Frank P Matthews nursery.

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

• 2-year pot-grown tree £77.00
  Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
  In a 12L pot
  Very large size (4m-7m after 10 years)
  

  Out of stock
  Sorry we have sold out for this season

How to grow

China Ruby is slow-growing, and likely to reach about 5m after 10 years if grown in good conditions. It prefers slightly acidic soil, but will tolerate, chalk, clay, and damp conditions.

History

The species Betula albosinensis (or Betula albo-sinensis) originates from China. Many examples were collected at the start of the 20th century, a period when China was the focus of many plant-collecting expeditions from the UK and USA.

China Ruby characteristics

• Gardening skillBeginner
• AwardsRHS AGM (current) - 2012
• Attractive featuresAttractive barkWinter colour
• Growth habitUpright-spreading / Vase
• Height after 10 years3m-5m / 10ft-16ft
• SunlightPrefers full sun
• PruningDo not prune
• Growth rateSlow
• Site conditionsSheltered siteOccasional flooding
• Flowering monthFebruary
• Leaf colourGreen
• Leaf colour - autumnYellow
• BarkStriated - brown
• Country of originChina
• Annual cycleDeciduous