Betula pendula 'Purpurea' Tree

Betula pendula 'Pupurea', more commonly known as Purple Birch, is slightly less weeping in habit compared to other birch trees but still displays the typical silvery white bark, contrasting beautifully with rich, dark foliage making this variety an ideal feature tree. The serrated foliage emerges dark purple/red in spring then slowly turns to purple/dark green throughout the summer and finally bronze/purple tones appear in autumn. Young branches are also a deep purple and catkins appear in the spring.

This tree can be grown on most soils but it’s best to avoid very chalky soil. Betula Pupurea is slower growing than other birches but will still reach a height and spread of 6 x 3 metres in 20 years.

Click here to go to all Birch trees.

AKA Purple leaved silver birch, Purple leaf birch, Betula pendula Purpurea

• Common name: Purple birch
• Height and spread in 20 years: 6 x 3 metres
• Seasons of interest: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
• Foliage: Dark purple/red foliage in spring, turning to purple/dark green throughout the summer and bronze/purple leaves in autumn
• Soil: Suited to all types except very chalky soils

Planting Advice for Betula pendula Purpurea Trees

Our pot grown Weeping Purple 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. Unless it's a multi stem form, we recommend planting Purple Birch trees with a stake and tie kit to ensure the roots are well anchored - instructions are in the planting guide.

Aftercare Advice for Purple Birch 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 on this Birch looking its best, you can wash it using a pressure washer (on a gentle setting), garden hose or slightly soapy water.

Pruning Advice for Betula pendula Purpurea Trees

Established Weeping Purple Birch trees do not require pruning and they do not take well to hard pruning. Hard pruning increases light penetration which in turn results in increased soil temperature and decreased 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. Purple Birch trees bleed heavily at all other times of the year, especially late winter.

Delivery Timescales

All trees are carefully packed by our experienced team and most are delivered within a week of placing the order (please allow up to 12 working days during busy periods). 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.

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.

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. Take care to buy a true multi-stem like all ours and not those that are 3 saplings in a pot to cheaply imitate them.

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