Darkness

PreviousNext

Darkness is an attractive medium-sized birch tree which features shiny dark copper bark, speckled with white.

Darkness birch trees for sale

All our pot-grown trees are grown for us to our specification by the Frank P Matthews nursery.

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

• 2-year pot-grown tree £78.00

  
  Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
  In a 12L pot
  Medium size (2.5m-3.5m after 10 years)
  

  012345678910

How to grow

Darkness does best in good soils in a sunny location, but will tolerate periods of drought or flooding.

History

'Darkness' is a form of Betula utilis, and was collected from the Kingdom of Bhutan in the eastern Himalayas. It is sometimes known as 'Dark-Ness', after Ness Gardens in north-west England, where it was planted in 1984. It appears closely related to the Chinese red birch (Betula albo-sinensis) which also features peeling bark.

Darkness characteristics

• Gardening skillBeginner
• Attractive featuresAttractive tree / plantAttractive bark
• Growth habitUpright
• Height after 10 years3m-5m / 10ft-16ft
• SunlightPrefers full sun
• PruningDo not prune
• Growth rateAverage
• Site conditionsOccasional floodingOccasional drought
• Leaf colourGreen
• BarkStriated - brown
• Country of originUnited Kingdom
• Annual cycleDeciduous

Similar varieties

• 
  Betula albosinensis
  China Ruby
  A slow-growing form of the Chinese red birch, featuring peeling copper-coloured bark and long catkins.

What will it look like?

Illustrative example of a pot-grown tree of this variety as supplied. Approximate girth: 6/8cm. We try to keep all pot-grown trees down to about 1.5m as supplied, but some may be larger. Trees should reach their mature height after about 10 or more years.