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The Highlights
• Stunning bright white bark provides winter interest
• Autumn interest as mid-green leaves turn to golden yellows
• Create elegance with a group planting scheme
• Tall elegant tree good for mid to large sized gardens
 
Key Features
• Award-Winning: RHS Award of Garden Merit for exceptional quality
• Perfect Size: Reaches 7m height x 3.5m spread in 20 years
• Year-Round Beauty: Lush spring leaves, golden autumn, white winter bark
• Easy to Grow: Thrives in full sun; tolerates most well-drained soils, including chalk
• Other names: Himalayan birch 'Doorenbos'
 
Description
Betula utilis jacquemontii 'Snow Queen,' often called the "Himalayan Birch," is celebrated for its gleaming white bark and softly arching branches. Perfect as a focal point in any garden, Betula 'Snow Queen' offers a blend of refined beauty and resilience. Its vibrant green leaves are oval and slightly serrated, transforming into a rich, golden-yellow in autumn before falling to reveal the tree’s stunning white bark.
 
With a moderate growth rate, Betula 'Snow Queen' matures gracefully, developing layered textures of papery bark that peel back to reveal bright, fresh layers beneath. It thrives best in full sun and adapts well to various soil types, though it reaches its full height and grandeur in well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil.
 
Betula 'Snow Queen' is a versatile choice for those looking to add elegance and natural interest to their gardens, large or small. Available as a bare root option, it’s ready to plant for instant impact in the landscape.
 
Planting Position 
This variety will tolerate full sun or partial shade. Like most birch it is fairly cosmopolitan in its soil preferences and soil pH but does prefer moist and well drained sites. The West Himalayan birch is suitable for most gardens and urban environments and is particularly attractive when planted as a group.
 
 
After Care Tips
Ensure your tree is planted with a good sturdy stake to give it support in the first couple of years, after which it can be removed. Water generously in times of drought and add a good layer of mulch to prevent it drying out in summer.
 
Birches generally don't require a lot of maintenance and are happy left alone to grow.  If you do want to carry out any pruning, for instance to remove any damaged, crossing or diseased branches, make sure you do this betweem late summer to mid-winter when the sap is not rising.
 
Bareroot options are available here