Betula ermanii aka Russian Rock Birch

Betula ermanii is a deciduous tree in the birch family, Betulaceae. Its names include Erman's birch, gold birch, and Russian rock birch. It comes from temperate northeast Asia, from Siberia to Japan. Its range also includes parts of China and Korea. It grows in mountain habitats across Japan. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This vigorous tree may form one trunk or several stems. Its crown can grow upright, with spreading branches. The RHS describes trees about 66 feet (20 metres) tall. Its size guide gives a height above 39 feet (12 metres). The listed spread is 13–26 feet (4–8 metres). Trees take 20–50 years to reach their full size. The trunk sheds strips of pinkish or cream-white bark. Branches have thin, papery brown bark. Dark green, ovate leaves have coarse teeth along their edges. They turn yellow in autumn before they fall.

Yellow-brown male catkins open as the new leaves emerge. Chicago Botanic Garden lists flowering from March to April. The pale trunk and yellow autumn leaves give it seasonal interest. Chicago lists it as a specimen tree. The RHS also suggests informal, wildlife, and architectural gardens. Its branching form and bark can suit woodland garden planting.

Grow it in sun or part shade. Choose soil with moderate fertility that stays moist but drains well. It accepts chalk, clay, loam, and sand. It also tolerates acidic, neutral, and alkaline soil. The RHS lists both sheltered and exposed sites as suitable. Its UK hardiness rating is H7. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA zones 5–7. Softwood cuttings and grafting are listed ways to raise new plants.

This birch can help restore woodland on poor or cleared ground. It grows fairly fast but has a short life. It helps create conditions where longer-lived trees can take hold. Those trees can later shade out its young seedlings. Birch borers, leaf-mining sawflies, and aphids may attack it. Possible diseases include honey fungus, rust, and powdery mildew. PFAF lists no known food uses and no known hazards. That does not establish that every part is safe to eat. It records bark use as a wound dressing. PFAF does not flag the tree as a weed.