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Betula utilis
Also called Himalayan Silver Birch, Indian Paper Birch
Betula utilis, the Himalayan birch, is a deciduous tree of the Birch family native to the Himalayas, Central Asia and China, valued for its shiny white-to-reddish bark that peels in papery sheets. The key to growing it is cool, moist conditions with full sun and good drainage, as it is adapted to snowmelt rather than heat.
Betula utilis, the Himalayan birch or bhojpatra (from Sanskrit: भूर्ज bhūrjá), is a deciduous tree native to the Himalayas, Central Asia, and China, growing at elevations up to 4,500 m (14,800 ft). The Latin specific epithet utilis means "useful", and refers to the many uses of the different parts of the tree. The white, paper-like bark was used in ancient times as a writing surface for manuscripts of Sanskrit literature. It is still used as paper for the writing of mantras, with the bark placed in an amulet and worn for protection. Selected varieties are used for landscaping throughout the world, even while some areas of its native habitat are being lost due to overuse of the tree for firewood.
Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis · Yellow birch · Erman's Birch · Betula gmelinii · Sweet birch · Monarch birch · Medwediew's Birch · River birch · Paper birch · Curly birch · Silver Birch · Downy Birch
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Betula utilis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
