Betula ermanii (09/02/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 20m
Eventual Spread: 12m
Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Family: Betulaceae
Betula ermanii is a fast growing deciduous tree, sometimes multi-stemmed, with an open, upright habit. Its dark green leaves are ovate with serrate margins, up to 7cm long and 5cm broad. Its leaves turn yellow before they fall in autumn. Its branches are red/ brown in colour. Its cream coloured bark is smooth and flakes in horizontal strips. Its monoecious flowers are in the form of yellow/ brown catkins, are wind pollinated and appear at about the same time as its leaves. Its fruit is a cylindrical aggregate and it disintegrates upon maturity. This tree is shallow rooted.
Betula ermanii Bark (09/02/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Betula ermanii, commonly known as Erman’s Birch or Russian Rock Birch, is native to Japan, islands off eastern Asia and Kamchatka.
The etymological root of the binomial name Betula is the old Latin name for the Birch tree. Ermanii is named after George Adolph Erman (1806-1877), a German natural scientist and responsible for identifying this tree.
The landscape architect may find Betula ermanii useful as a specimen tree with attractive winter bark.
Ecologically, Betula ermanii provides a valuable source of pollen for insects.
Betula ermanii prefers moist, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Betula ermanii requires little maintenance.
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