Purple Birch Royal Frost

A breath-taking modern hybrid that combines the best traits of two beloved birch species, Betula Royal Frost delivers a wonderful year-round display of colour and texture. Bred from a cross between the dark-leaved Betula platyphylla ‘Whitespire’ and Betula pendula ‘Crimson Frost’, this handsome deciduous tree unfurls rich, glossy burgundy-purple foliage in mid-Spring that holds its deep coloration right through the heat of Summer. As Autumn approaches, the canopy puts on a final dazzling performance, turning fiery tones of orange, red, and gold before shedding. Once bare, the tree reveals its other crowning glory: peeling white papery bark that develops striking cinnamon-cream under-layers as it matures. Naturally slender and broadly pyramidal with delicately pendulous branch tips, it makes an outstanding focal specimen for medium-sized gardens seeking four-season architectural interest.

Site: Tolerates inland exposure
Soil: Any moist, well-drained or well-drained soil
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: Rich burgundy-purple foliage from Spring through Summer, bright fiery orange and red leaf display in Autumn, and peeling white bark through Winter
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 30-40ft (9-12m) Spread: 16-20ft (5-6m) over 20 years

Image by Htm cropped and licensed under CC-BY-4.0