Black Birch Tree | Betula nigra 'Black Star'

With its papery peeling bark in pink and brown hues, lush green foliage and attractive yellow catkins, it's small wonder 'Black Star' ranks among our favourite ornamental trees. Although this birch can reach an ultimate height of 15m or so, given enough time and a can-do attitude, it's easily pruned to fit smaller gardens, too. The airy, spreading canopy allows lots of light to filter through, making this a perfect pick should you want to do any underplanting with perennials. Fully hardy and easy to grow, 'Black Star' looks fabulous incorporated as part of a woodland or woodland-edge garden scheme. Often also called the river birch, Betula nigra is commonly found in wetlands and swamps. It's among the only birch species, in fact, to tolerate wetter ground.