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Moonshine Designs Nursery Located in Milan, Illinois 309-756-1967 Fax: 309-756-1058
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Paper White Birch
Betula Papyrifera
Clump above is 4 yrs. old Typical Bark Fall Color
The Birch family is noted for its fall leaf color, and white peeling bark. They also grow fairly quickly! These are the trees that were used by the Indians for making canoes
Zones 2 - 7.
Naturally grows in clumps, so plant three or four together in the same hole.
Grows 40 - 80+ feet, depending on location, and prefers cool, damp areas, that are well drained.
Best adapted to cooler climates as it does poorly in high summer
heat, especially root zone heat!
Prefers well-drained, slightly acid sandy loam soils
Full sun.
Avoid spring pruning to prevent bleeding.
Gallon size; 3-4' Item 10250
2 Gallon 3-5' 78810
3 gallon clump (three trunk) 78811
5 Gallon Clump; 3 trunks; 3-5' 78812
5 Gallon clump 8-9' tall 3 trunk: $49.95 PICK UP ONLY SOLD OUT
SEED:
Packet contains 200+ seeds. $2.75 per packet Item 78813
Seed Culture:
Betula Papyrifera (Paper White Birch)
The Seeds need to be stratified before they will germinate. To avoid using up space with a myriad of pots during stratification, place about a tablespoonful of seed-starting mix, (such as Jiffy-mix or Redi-Earth) just moistened (not wet), in a plastic zip-lock bag. Place the bag in the refrigerator (not freezer) for at least 9 weeks, or until you're ready to grow the seedlings. Spread the mixture over a sterile seed sowing mixture that is moist, but not soaking wet. Cover with a piece of glass or plastic and place in a bright area, but not in direct sun. Do not cover the seeds with media. They need light to germinate. The seeds will germinate at different rates, but most will start to sprout about 2 weeks after you remove them to room temperature. Grow on in pots for at least 6 weeks after germination. Harden off before planting out. Germination in nature normally takes place in the spring following dispersal in the fall. The small seeds are sensitive to soil moisture and temperature. Thus shade usually favors germination and initial establishment by preventing seedbeds from drying out and reaching excessively high temperatures.
*OPTIONAL ACCELERATED BIRCH TREE GROWTH METHOD
ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS PARAMOUNT!
ALTERNATE BIRCH SEED GERMINATION: Sow on surface of wet seed starting medium such as Jiffy-Mix. Cover with a sheet of glass or plastic. Expose to 24 hour fluorescent light 12" from seed flat for 9 days. Alternate light/ dark in 12 hour shifts for the next 7-10 days. Ventilate flat when germination begins. DO NOT let the seeds dry out during this treatment. They will not recover. Keep seed flat medium between 65 and 80 degrees until germination. Once most have germinated, remove to 55-75 degree temperatures. Keep moist and well ventilated. Fertilize with 1/4 strength 20-20-20 water soluble fertilizer at every watering. When two sets of true leaves have developed, transplant to individual cells or small pots. Grow on for 6 weeks in light shade after transplanting. Shift to 1 gallon pots using a good quality potting mix such as ProMix BX with 1 tablespoon of Osmocote 18-6-12 controlled release fertilizer per gallon container. Move to full sun. Keep watered.
At the end of the first year, trees should be 12-20" tall. Second year: Shift to 5 gallon pot in early spring. Plant three in a tight group if you want a clump effect or singly if single specimens are desired. Use a soilless mix of composted pine bark and sand in a 50-50 ratio. Add 1/4 cup of Osmocote 18-6-12 per 5 gallon container at planting, mixing in well. Do not plant seedlings deeper in this pot than they were growing in the 1 gallon pots. Keep well watered and in full sun. Stake with bamboo sticks if necessary. Keep lower 1/3 of the tree free from lateral branches. At the end of the second year, trees should be 36-48" or more in height. 60" is not uncommon.
