Betula utilis jacquemontii 'Grayswood Ghost' Tree

As the name suggests, Betula utilis jacquemontii 'Grayswood Ghost' produces striking, ghostly white bark. The green foliage is larger than most Birch varieties and turns a good yellow colour in autumn. Yellow-brown catkins in early spring provide additional interest.

Betula utilis 'Grayswood Ghost' has a slightly upright, rounded form growing to 8 metres with a spread of 4 metres in 20 years. This award-winning variety of Himalayan Birch is perfect to grow as a specimen tree for fantastic winter interest and benefits from being resilient to a range of conditions and soil types.

This variety of Birch was discovered in a garden in Grayswood Hill, Haslemere, Surrey in 1956.

AKA Himalayan Birch Grayswood Ghost, White Barked Himalayan Birch

• Common name: Himalayan birch tree 'Grayswood Ghost'
• Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
• Height and spread in 20 years: 8 x 4 metres
• Seasons of interest: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
• Bark: White bark
• Foliage: Deciduous, green in spring/summer, turning yellow in autumn
• Soil: Grows well in most soil types

Planting Advice for Betula utilis Jacquemontii Grayswood Ghost Trees

Our pot grown Grayswood Ghost 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 Grayswood Ghost Birch trees (except multi stem forms) with a stake and tie kit to ensure the roots are well anchored - instructions are in the planting guide. Finish by watering generously around the base.

Aftercare Advice for Betula utilis Jacquemontii Grayswood Ghost Trees

White Birch require a good watering regime for a couple of years to establish. Water well and regularly through spring and summer, increasing in hot or dry weather. If planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little. Unlike many species, Birch prefer wet soil than dry. Irrigation kits make it easier.

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 utilis Jacquemontii Grayswood Ghost Trees

Established Grayswood Ghost Birch trees do not require pruning and they do not take well to hard pruning. Hard pruning leads to increased light penetration of the roots 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. Birch trees bleed heavily at all other times of the year, especially late winter.

Delivery Costs

*Free delivery promotion excludes mature trees, extra large kits and delivery to Highlands or Islands. Discount applies at checkout.

Delivery Times

Next Day Despatch
We will always try to get your plants to you as quickly as possible.  For many of our trees and plants, if you order today we will despatch your order within 24 hours.  We are constantly adding to our range of next day plants, and we do not add a surcharge for this service. Click here to see our next day delivery plants.

Standard Delivery
We have one of the widest range of trees in the UK, and for those plants which we cannot despatch next day we will normally despatch within 4 weeks. The despatch time for different products will be confirmed when products are added to your shopping basket

Pre-orders
We will only want to deliver your orders when they are perfect for planting! Depending on the season and how well the plants are growing, we will give our best estimates of the despatch dates for pre-orders.  These dates may vary and by species and while we will always try to deliver within these timeframes if the expected despatch does change then we will notify you by email.

Special Orders
Orders containing pleached or mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) are delivered within 3 weeks. They require specialist delivery and are grouped geographically. Any customers ordering pleached or mature trees will be contacted and notified of their delivery date.

If your trees are required by a specific date, please let us know as soon as possible; while we can’t offer any guarantees we will always do our best to accommodate you. You can leave instructions in the notes field on the Delivery Page of the Checkout or send us an email at [email protected].

Please note that orders are shipped once all the trees in the order are ready.

Collections
Collections are by appointment only at our West Yorkshire-based nursery. If you would like to place an order for collection, please get in touch before placing your order. You will not be charged a delivery cost for a collection and any delivery cost that has been applied 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. *Pot sizes may vary. Below are definitions of terms:

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

Single Stem tree: Classic tree with one trunk, pruned for a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted tree: A height next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Ideal for small spaces.

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

Multi Stem tree: 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 give the appearance of a bushy multi stem tree.

Climber: Naturally climbing plant. Usually delivered running up a 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.