An oddity within our Birch range, hardly looking like a member of the same family.

It is a native of Japan where it can reach up to 35 metres in height but it is rare to see in the UK and reaches a more modest height of between 15-20 metres.

Introduced into the UK in 1893 this is one to catch someone out on a tree identification competition.

It is fast growing and has a dark brown trunk when young maturing into greyish tinges.

The large heart shaped leaves turn clear yellow in the autumn. It retains a pyramidal shape when young but this broadens at maturity.

The leaves are the biggest of all the Birch family sometimes attaining over 12cm in length.

Mature height: 12-17m

Mature spread: 8-12m