Tree comparisons
| Birch China Ruby |  Crimson Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| A slow-growing form of the Chinese red birch, featuring peeling copper-coloured bark and long catkins. | Crimson Cloud has dark red flowers with white centres. | |
| remove | remove |
Growing
| Birch China Ruby | Hawthorn Crimson Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Gardening skill | Beginner | |
| Awards | RHS AGM (current) | |
| Attractive features | Attractive bark Winter colour | |
| Growth habit | Upright-spreading / Vase | Spreading / Flat-topped |
| Height after 10 years | 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft | 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft |
| Sunlight | Prefers full sun | Tolerates shade |
| Pruning | Do not prune | Light prune |
| Growth rate | Slow | |
| Site conditions | Sheltered site Occasional flooding | Occasional flooding Coastal site |
| Wildlife | Attractive to birds |
Identification
| Birch China Ruby | Hawthorn Crimson Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Flower colour | Red - dark | |
| Flower form | Single flower (5-8 petals) | |
| Flowering month | February | May |
| Leaf colour | Green | Green |
| Leaf colour - autumn | Yellow | |
| Fruit colour | Red | |
| Fruit size | Small | |
| Bark | Striated - brown | |
| Country of origin | China | |
| Annual cycle | Deciduous |