Whitespire Birch Tree
Betula populifolia 'Whitespire'
Planting & Care
Planting & Care
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Preorder Shipping Schedule
We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.
| Zone 3-4 | Week of March 30th |
| Zone 5 | Week of March 16th |
| Zone 6-12 | Week of March 2nd |
Shipping Rates
Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150 - $198.99 | $24.99 |
| $199+ | FREE |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Our Container Sizes
At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes
Quart
Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.
#1 Container
Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.
#2 Container
Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.
#3 Container
Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.
#5 Container and Larger
Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.
Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?
Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.
Root Pouch Containers
Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:
- Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
- Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.
Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.
Full Root Pouch planting guide
Choosing the Right Size
| Size | Plant Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Quart | 6 mo to 1 yr | Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings. |
| #1 Container | 1 to 2 yrs | Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners. |
| #2 Container | 2 to 3 yrs | Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment. |
| #3 Container | 3 to 4 yrs | Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size. |
| #5 and larger | 4+ yrs | Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact. |
Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.
Plant Sentryâ„¢ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Description
Elegant Accent Whitespire Birch Attractive Bark!
You've probably seen the stunning white logs with the beautiful deep gray chevrons, carefully stacked next to the stone fireplace at the ski chalet in Aspen. Or perhaps you've just caught a glimpse in decorators' magazines.
Maybe you've admired the pretty deciduous tree 3 blocks over. The chalky-white bark, fluttering leaves, and crisp, clean form are hard to miss!
We can easily assume that you fell in love with the Whitespire Birch Tree (Betula populifolia 'Whitespire'), it makes a fabulous, fine-textured accent tree.
Tall and stately, the Whitespire's showy bark does not exfoliate or peel. It will create a magnificent focal point in both daytime and at night.
Garden designers across the country love this improved selection of Gray Birch with its good pest resistance and enormously ornamental features. The pyramidal shape is instantly recognizable.
Use this as a wonderful, sophisticated choice for both front or backyard landscaping in colder zones. You simply can't go wrong with Whitespire Birch!
There are several ways it's grown and sold. Choose from a multi-stemmed "clump" or a single trunk.
The Whitespire Birch gives you several standout seasons during the year. Bright green leaves and cute, dangling catkins provide summer interest and refreshing, dappled shade. You can easily grow smaller plants in this shade.
You'll love the way the dark green leaves turn a rich, bright yellow in autumn. Next comes winter, when that showy bark adds tremendous visual interest and captures your attention. The bark turns white when the trunks get to be about two or three inches in diameter.
For a gorgeous, easy-care tree that really delivers on style, order Whitespire Birch today!
How to Use Whitespire Birch in the Landscape
In a front yard, this makes a perfect decorative accent in front of a picture window. Use one to anchor a walkway or garden bed. It is sure to draw the eye year-round.
In the backyard, use several trees to create a wonderful view from your deck or patio. Plant several in a loose grouping and create a mulched planting bed for them to grow in. Add evergreen shrubs for year-round structure, then spice up the design with flowering plants. You'll love the look, and the polite, airy privacy these pretty trees will give you.
You might choose to leave space to run a wood mulch path between a few of the trees. Create a high-end destination spot under their branches.
They'll look incredible when planted in front of a row of taller evergreen trees. Soften the look of windbreaks, and existing "fortress style" privacy plantings. They seem to catch the slightest breeze and the gentle sound of the wind fluttering through the leaves adds to your enjoyment.
While away a lazy afternoon on a hammock and a good book. Life is short, enjoy your yard to the fullest!
No matter how you use this wonderful tree, be sure to include exterior lighting in your landscape design to show this tree off all night as well! Point the lights upwards into the tree's canopy for an inspired nighttime setting.
Use a single-stem plant as a formal specimen plant. These make excellent plants for framing larger buildings.
For a really interesting look in a natural grouping, try using both a multi-stemmed clump and single stems together. Clumps are grown with 3 or 4 stems, and still achieve an overall upright habit.
Mixing the two forms together is the best way to replicate a natural stand and create a small Birch forest. Draw your plan on paper first, then play around with the trees while they are still in their nursery pots until you get a loose, curving zig-zag.
Space them from 7 to 15 feet apart. Choose to vary the spacing to create a retreat in your yard. The closer you plant them, the more quickly their canopies will touch. For a row of individual trees, place them 15 feet apart. In this application, buy the single stem form.
Birch loves cool, moist soil with their leaves in full sun. Try them along a north-facing slope or a site where the house or building may shade the root zone, but their canopy receives at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. In that location, Birch will be robust, vigorous, and stress-free.
They are also great trees to add to the Middle Zone of Rain Gardens. They are happy to have periodically damp soil to grow into.
- Super Showy, Smooth, Chalky-White Bark
- Shiny, Dark Green Leaves
- Bold, Clear-Yellow Fall Color
- Refined Pyramidal Form
- Fast Growing Accent or Shade Tree
#ProPlantTips for Care
Birch are easy-care trees that thrive in either full sun or partial shade. It's not fussy about soil type and can grow even in poor soils. This tree is wonderful in urban settings. Rugged Birch can easily handle air pollution.
The only thing you'll need to do is plant this deciduous tree in well-drained soil, and keep it watered, as it won't tolerate drier conditions in periods of drought. Cool, moist soils are ideal. An evenly scheduled moderate amount of moisture is best. As you get into the warmer, drier regions, the plants will appreciate additional moisture as needed to keep them stress-free especially later in summer going into winter.
Be sure to mulch the area beneath if you are in the warmer zones as it will help to maintain even moisture at the roots. Using a thick layer of mulch around the tree spread out 3 feet beyond the canopy will really help cover the top of the root system and protect it. Please don't let the mulch touch the trunk of the tree, and pull the mulch back and keep it a few inches away from the trunk.
Birch will bleed sap if pruned in winter or early spring, so wait until the leaves are out on your Birch trees before you prune them. Once established, the Whitespire Birch is very low maintenance!
- Full Sun Trees
- Well-Drained Soils
- Moderate to High Moisture
- Good Pest Resistance & Urban Tolerant
- Prune After Leaves Emerge
- Deer Seem to Leave it Alone
Place your order for the Whitespire Birch Tree today. This is truly an outstanding choice for cooler growing zones. Shipping to your doorstep from NatureHills.com!
Specifications
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Bloom PeriodLate Spring
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Does Not Ship ToAK, HI, ID, MT, PR
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