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How to Grow Silver Birch

The Betula genus in Australia is suited to the cooler regions, and are popular on account of their beautiful, soft heart-shaped leaves and often papery/silvery bark. All are deciduous, with leaves of green through spring and summer and create a striking autumn display of yellow fallen leaves littering the ground. They flower in spring, forming attractive catkins, dropping pollen when touched by the wind. The Silver Birch is famed for its weeping soft habit, and papery peeling bark. An all-time favourite!

Full sun or partial shade

Regular deep watering, quite tough once established.

Well drained, sandy soil

Suitable for most climates

How to grow silver birch in a garden

Step 1

Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

Step 2

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the tree from the container or bag (for bare rooted trees), gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.

Step 3

Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes.

Step 4

Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.

Step 5

Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.

Step 6

Feed in autumn and spring with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser to promote strong root development, healthy foliage & flowers.

Growing tips

Can grow to up to 12 metres in height depending on variety so choose the planting spot with this in mind.
Varieties include: Silver, paper, nigra and several other cultivars. Betula nigra is the best option for warmer areas.