Betula pendula 'Fastigiata Joes' Tree

Betula pendula 'Fastigiata Joes' has a wonderfully sleek, narrow pyramidal shape. Its silhouette is almost columnar, but tapers off to a neat point. This shape lends itself well to small gardens with limited space, but equally it looks magnificent when planted in lines along an avenue or driveway.

'Fastigiata Joes' features beautiful white bark and pretty twisting branches. Catkins adorn the tree in late Spring and small green leaves turn yellow-orange in Autumn.

Developed in Holland, it offers a narrower shape, purer white bark and less susceptibility to leaf rust than Betula pendula 'Fastigiata'. This was recognised at the 2017 Chelsea Flower Show, where it was shortlisted for Plant of the Year.

AKA Betula pendula 'Jolep1', Fastigiated birch

• Common name: Upright Birch tree
• Height and spread in 20 years: 5 x 2 metres
• Seasons of interest: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
• Bark: White bark for year round interest
• Foliage: Green deciduous leaves turn yellow-orange in autumn
• Soil: Prefers slightly acidic soil but tolerates most soils

Planting Advice for Betula pendula Fastigiata Joes Trees

Our pot grown Fastigiata Joes 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.

We recommend planting Fastigiata Joes 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 of Betula pendula Fastigiata Joes Trees

If you're planting Upright Birch 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 pendula Fastigiata Joes Trees

Established Fastigiata Joes Birch trees do not require pruning and they do not take well to hard pruning. Hard pruning leads to higher light levels at the ground, increasing temperature and decreasing moisture levels. Simply remove the lateral shoots to maintain a clear trunk and prune any diseased or damaged branches. Pruning should be carried out in late summer to mid-winter. Birch trees bleed heavily at all other times of the year, especially late winter.

Delivery Costs

1 small tree (most trees under 1.5 metres in height) : £9.95 + vat

1 medium tree (most trees 1.5-2 metres in height) or 2-4 small trees: £11.95 + vat

2+ medium trees or 5+ small trees: £14.95 + vat

1-4 trees delivered by pallet to kerbside (inc. mature Japanese Maples): 24.95 + vat

Mature trees, pleached trees or orders too large for pallet: Cost is calculated in the checkout process and varies by postcode not quantity. Starts from £48 + vat.

The above prices exclude the Scottish Highlands, where delivery starts from £24.95 + vat and is calculated in the checkout process. Please note, we are unable to deliver outside of Mainland UK.

Delivery Timescales

All trees are carefully packed by our experienced team and most are delivered within 3 weeks of placing the order, unless stated otherwise. There's no need to be in to receive your order and you can request where it is left via the checkout.

For pleached and mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height), there is a slightly longer timescale because we group orders together by geographic area for specialist delivery - we will contact these customers about the delivery date.

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