Betula albosinensis Fascination - Birch

Betula albosinensis 'Fascination' is a lovely Dutch variety dating back to 1986, derived from Chinese Birch, famous for the beauty of its bark. This variety has a less significant development and denser branches than its parent. Its main asset remains its truly fascinating bark, painted with a pale vermilion-copper that shines with the low winter light. Its trunk and branches exfoliate, even on a fairly young subject, giving way to a new pruinose white to blue-grey bark, soft and smooth like new skin. The deciduous foliage, smaller than that of the type, takes on a beautiful golden hue in autumn before falling. It should be planted in isolation or in front of a large grove of deciduous or evergreen trees, in full light.

Chinese Birch is a deciduous tree native to the open forests of mountains located in western China, growing at altitudes between 2000 m and 4000 m (6561.7 ft to 13123.4 ft). The habit of this species, which reaches a height of up to 10 m to 12 m (32.8 ft to 39.4 ft) in nature, is distinctly pyramidal, and somewhat broad.

The 'Fascination' cultivar, due to its slow growth, will reach a height of 8 m (26.2 ft) and spread of 4 m to 5 m (13.1 ft to 16.4 ft), after many years. Its crown, with a pyramidal and spreading habit, consists of many slightly pendulous, thin and flexible branches covered with a light reddish-brown bark. The trunk, quite short, is covered with a magnificent copper-red bark that exfoliates into long strips, revealing the almost white new bark. Its leaves, ovate to triangular, 5 cm to 8 cm (2 in to 3.1 in) long, are dark green. They are smooth on the upper side, pubescent and glandular on the underside. They are smaller and more oblong than those of the wild species. The lamina is edged with double teeth. 'Fascination' shows early leafing-out, from the beginning of spring, which makes this variety more sensitive to late frosts. The leaves turn golden yellow in autumn. The inflorescences appear in April in the form of pendulous yellowish-green catkins. The root system of this tree is quite shallow; it is dense and composed of secondary roots bearing numerous rootlets. Keep this beautiful birch away from the house, as strong winds could potentially uproot it, especially when it is heavily leafed-out and the soil is very moist.

Chinese Birch is a very tolerant species in terms of soil, as long as it is not too dry. Its main attraction is its bark, but its moderate development and slow growth are real assets for medium-sized, or even modest, gardens. It truly stands out in winter. Plant alongside other remarkable winter plants, such as multicoloured Dogwoods or winter-flowering and fragrant Witch Hazels. It also allows for contrasting colour combinations, for example when paired with black Ophiopogons, certain purple Hellebores, or the foliage of 'Black Lace' Elderberry in summer. Its autumn foliage will blend well with that of Nyssa sylvatica in acidic and moist soil, with that of deciduous Viburnums (Viburnum lantana, V. opulus and its cultivars), or with Persian Ironwood in slightly drier, lightly alkaline soil.