Betula albosinensis Red Panda (Chinese Red Birch)

Award-winning Betula albosinensis ‘Red Panda’ features a most attractive coppery-pink bark with subtle shades of caramel and honey, and abundant white lenticels (bumpy lines).

Award-winning Betula albosinensis 'Red Panda' features a most attractive coppery-pink bark with subtle shades of caramel and honey, and abundant white lenticels (bumpy lines). The eye-catching bark provides a very nice contrast with the summer canopy of oval, tapering, dark green leaves, 3 in. long (7 cm). The foliage turns golden-yellow in fall before shedding for the winter. In spring, tiny yellowish-brown male flowers appear in drooping catkins. Vigorous, this medium-sized deciduous tree has a conical, upright, lightly spreading, bushy habit and is best grown as a specimen in a large lawn, where its glowing peeling bark can be admired in winter.

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities
  • Grows up to 30-50 ft. tall (9-15 m) and 33 ft. wide (10 m).
  • A full sun or part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in medium to wet, well-drained soils. Tolerates a wide range of soils.
  • Perfect as a specimen plant or in borders, cottage gardens, city gardens, and foundation plantings.
  • Low maintenance, this plant needs little pruning. If pruning is necessary, prune during the dormant season and avoid pruning in spring when the sap is running.
  • May be affected by sawflies, aphids, rust and leaf spot.
  • Propagate by softwood cuttings or grafting

Requirements

Hardiness 5
– 8

Heat Zones 5
– 8

Climate Zones 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Betula – Birches
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)FallWinter
Height 30'
– 50'
(9m
– 15m)
Spread 30'
– 33'
(9m
– 10m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Deer
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden