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Birch collection in golden autumn colours
Home Plants Birches
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Birches

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The Garden holds a good collection of birches from around the world.

Family: Betulaceae (birch family)

Genus: Betula

Plant images

Birch collection in golden autumn colours
Birch collection in golden autumn colours Click for information
The Birch Collection, pristine under winter snow
The Birch Collection, pristine under winter snow Click for information
Betula nigra
Betula nigra Click for information
Betula platyphylla
Betula platyphylla Click for information
A tri-stemmed Chinese Red Birch in the Winter Garden
A tri-stemmed Chinese Red Birch in the Winter Garden Click for information

Plant description

The Garden holds a good collection of birches from around the world. Birches are beautiful throughout the year, but winter is the best time to appreciate their beautiful barks, ranging from the chalky white of the White Himalayan Birch, Betula utilis var jacquemontii, to the beautiful soft tones of the Chinese Red Birch, Betula albosinensis, and the fraying, brown, scaly bark of the River Birch, Betula nigra.

At the eastern end of the renowned Winter Garden, a special selection of the Chinese Red Birch, Betula albosinensis var septentrionalis is grown as a tri-stemmed specimen. The bark is irresistible to the touch and generations of visitors have polished it to a shimmering smooth surface of rosy pink, pearly grey and warm apricot.

University of Cambridge Museums and Botanic Garden

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