Yellow birch

[Giga]

Thought I'd just post my yellow birch. I collected in in the mountain at around 3000' and I literally just picked it up. It was growing on top of a rock in moss and old leaves. It's done well for me and I've been building up the ramification(hasn't been styled yet). I plan on putting it in a pot this spring but I need buy one for this tree-any idea on a color and shape?. Crazy thing is it's 25'ish years old-give or take rings are very close-I thought it was a lot younger then that. when I chopped the top I didn't know that the sap smells like wintergreen and very strong too! Sorry for the bad pics as I didn't have a good background and it's crowded in the grow out bed, plus the massive maple in my back yard is throwing leaves all over the place

 

[jeanluc83]

What you have is actually sweet birch Betula lenta you can tell by the bark and the smell when cut.

I didn't know that the sap smells like wintergreen and very strong too!

Now you know where they got the flavoring for birch beer. I think I remember reading that the native Americans would chew on birch twigs to freshen their breath. Birch also has a compound that prevents tooth decay.

 

[jeanluc83]

I stand corrected it may in fact be yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis. It appears that it also has a wintergreen sent when cut. To me based on the bark it looks more like sweet birch though.

In either case it looks like a fun little tree to work with.

 

[Giga]

lol now I'm gonn have to look up sweet birch and make sure of what I have. Anyway it's a great little tree with the bones of becoming a great tree. Though I'm still up the air about a pot.

 

[Cadillactaste]

What a cool story to go along with the tree. Love it's history so far with you. I agree...looks like something fun to work with! Interesting the scent you described. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Cadillactaste]

lol now I'm gonn have to look up sweet birch and make sure of what I have. Anyway it's a great little tree with the bones of becoming a great tree. Though I'm still up the air about a pot.

Maybe a color to accent it's fall color? I love fall color on a tree. I think accenting for that purpose always is stunning during fall.

 

[Giga]

What a cool story to go along with the tree. Love it's history so far with you. I agree...looks like something fun to work with! Interesting the scent you described. Thanks for sharing.

It was the first time I went yamadori hunting, it when I took one more step deeper into the bonsai world. This spring will my third year serious yamadori hunting up in the mountains. I have so older larger trees lined up this spring. I'm very excited

 

[Cadillactaste]

It was the first time I went yamadori hunting, it when I took one more step deeper into the bonsai world. This spring will my third year serious yamadori hunting up in the mountains. I have so older larger trees lined up this spring. I'm very excited

That's pretty cool...I've only had dreams about collecting in the wild.

I am seriously...considering come spring...knocking on a person's door...and asking them about a landscape tree that was blown over...and has continued to grow for years as such. The base of that tree is amazing...worse case...they say no. I slow down and drool every time I get up that way. It's about an hours drive from me. But, I never can drive by without gawking. Nothing like collecting in the wild though.

 

[Giga]

That's pretty cool...I've only had dreams about collecting in the wild.

I am seriously...considering come spring...knocking on a person's door...and asking them about a landscape tree that was blown over...and has continued to grow for years as such. The base of that tree is amazing...worse case...they say no. I slow down and drool every time I get up that way. It's about an hours drive from me. But, I never can drive by without gawking. Nothing like collecting in the wild though.

Do it, I have done that. Sometimes yes sometimes no, I've found if your willing to replace with another tree they can't hand you the shovel fast enough lol

 

[Cadillactaste]

Do it, I have done that. Sometimes yes sometimes no, I've found if your willing to replace with another tree they can't hand you the shovel fast enough lol

I had thought that as well. A nursery isn't that far from there that I do like to use...a lavender twist...or such would look beautiful in that spot.

 

[Mike Hennigan]

Any updates on this tree? I can’t kid the pictures at all... but I’m considering buying a yellow birch from the nursery I work at to develop it. It’s nebari is set up perfectly already. Wondering how this tree worked out for you?