Betula albosinensis 'Fascination' Tree

Betula albosinensis 'Fascination' is a popular Chinese Birch with peeling cream bark that features variations of orange, brown and pink throughout. The dark-green leaves that appear in spring alongside brown-yellow catkins look stunning against the creamy textured bark. In autumn the foliage turns golden yellow before falling and leaving the stunning skeletal feature of this Chinese white barked Birch tree for the winter months.

Offering year round interest and dappled shade, Betula albosinensis 'Fascination' will suit most soils except very extreme types and will grow well in inland exposure in a partly shaded or sunny spot. Expect a height and spread of 8 x 4 metres in 20 years from this beautiful feature tree.

AKA Betula 'Fascination', Betula albo-sinensis 'Fascination', Northern Chinese White Birch, Western Chinese White Birch, Fascination Birch tree

• Common name: Chinese White Barked Birch
• Height and spread in 20 years: 8 x 4 metres
• Seasons of interest: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
• Bark: Multi-coloured peeling bark
• Foliage: Green foliage in spring and summer, golden yellow in autumn
• Catkins: Catkins in spring
• Soil: Suited to most soils except very extreme conditions

Planting Advice for Betula albo-sinensis Fascination Trees

Our pot grown Chinese White Barked Birch trees can be planted at any time of the year. Start by removing weeds and grass within a metre of your desired planting hole. Dig a square hole as deep as your root mass and approximately 2x as wide. To help the tree establish more effectively, sprinkle root grow in the hole.

Remove the pot, gently loosen the roots and place into the planting hole. Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% compost, fill in the hole and firm around gently. Avoid banking the soil up around the collar of the tree.

For single stem forms, we recommend planting Chinese White Barked Birch trees with a stake and tie kit to anchor the roots. For our medium staking kits, insert the stake into the ground at an angle to avoid penetrating the rootmass.

Aftercare Advice for Betula albo-sinensis Fascination Trees

If you're planting in spring or summer, water well for the first few months. Increase watering if there are extended periods of hot or dry weather. If planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little. Unlike other species, Birch trees would rather be in wet soil than dry. Irrigation kits make it easier.

Once planted, keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons. If your area is prone to rabbits, use a rabbit guard. To keep the white bark looking its best, you can wash it using water and a sponge.

Pruning Betula albo-sinensis Fascination Trees

Established Chinese White Barked Birch trees require minimal pruning, which should be carried out in late summer to mid-winter. Birch trees bleed heavily at other times of the year, especially late winter. Simply remove the lateral shoots to maintain a clear trunk and prune any diseased or damaged branches. Avoid hard pruning as this leads to increased light penetration of the roots, which in turn results in increased soil temperature and decreased moisture levels.

Covid-19: We're pleased to announce that we are back up and running in line with government advice. We have a bit of a backlog of orders and are catching up as we write. Please expect a slightly longer lead time of around 2 – 3 weeks (excludes pre-order and mature trees). Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Delivery Costs

1 small tree (most trees under 1.5 metres in height) : £7.95 + vat

1 medium tree (most trees 1.5-2 metres in height) or 2-4 small trees: £9.95 + vat

2+ medium trees or 5+ small trees: £12.95 + vat

1-4 trees delivered by pallet (inc. mature Japanese Maples): £19.95 + vat

The above prices exclude the Scottish Highlands, where delivery starts from £24.95 + vat and is calculated in the checkout process.

Mature and pleached trees or orders too large for pallet: Cost is calculated in the checkout process and varies by postcode rather than quantity (starts from £48 + vat).

Northern Ireland and Non Mainland UK

Our courier charges are not viable for just one or two trees, but if you have a larger requirement then please do speak to us to see if we can find a solution.

Delivery Timescales

All trees are carefully packed by our experienced team and most are delivered within 10 days of placing the order. There's no need to be in to receive your order and you can request where it is left via the checkout.

There is a slightly longer timescale on pleached and mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) because we group orders together for specialist delivery - we will contact these customers to notify them of the delivery date.

Trees on pre-order are still growing and an estimate of when they will be ready is given on the basket page. Orders will be despatched when all trees are ready.

Gift trees and those required by a specific date can be accommodated with pleasure, although we accept no legal responsibility for late deliveries.

Our nursery is a busy despatch centre, so please make an appointment to collect or view trees.  For collections, despatch charges will be refunded.

The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. Below are definitions of terms:

Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.

Single Stem / Pruned and shaped: Classic shaped tree with a single stem that has had pruning to help create a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted: A height noted next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Top grafted trees do not require complicated pruning and are ideal for small spaces.

Feathered: A feathered tree has branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.

Multi Stem: A multi stem tree has two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.

Clump: Several plants in one pot that can give the appearance of a multi stemmed and very bushy tree.

Climber: A plant that is a natural climber and will be delivered usually running up a bamboo cane, ready to position in the garden.

Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height:

Standard  either 6-10cm or 8-10cm girth, approximately 2.5-3.0m in height
Premium Standard  10-12cm girth, approximately 3.0-3.5m in height
Heavy Standard  12-14cm girth, approximately 3.5-4.5m in height
Extra Heavy Standard 14-16cm girth approximately 4.0-6m in height