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 |









