Silver birch trees with their striking white bark and graceful form are one of the most popular and beautiful ornamental trees for landscapes. If you’re looking to add one of these elegant trees to your yard, you’ll need to start by purchasing young saplings. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about buying silver birch saplings for sale and getting them successfully established in your outdoor space.
What to Look for When Selecting Silver Birch Saplings
Silver birch saplings are usually available in the following sizes:
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Seedlings – Less than 1 foot tall sold bare root. Best for large plantings.
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Transplants – 1-3 feet tall, sold in pots or bare root. The most common size purchased.
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Small trees – Around 5-7 feet tall, grown in containers. Provide quicker impact but cost more.
When choosing silver birch saplings, look for:
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A strong central leader and evenly spaced side branches. Avoid saplings with double leaders or sparse branching.
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Healthy white bark free of lesions, fungus, cracks, or other defects. Some bronze coloring is normal when young.
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Leaves that are oval, serrated, and vibrant green without spots or discoloration.
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No circling roots or stem damage from improper nursery care
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Enough roots to establish well but not root bound if potted.
Vigorous, young saplings like these will give your birch trees the best start when planting.
Where to Buy Silver Birch Saplings Online
Ordering silver birch saplings online from reputable nurseries is a convenient way to access a wide variety of plants. Some of the best online sellers include:
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Cold Stream Farm – Offers bare root silver birch seedlings and transplants ranging from 6 inches up to 5 feet tall. Provides free shipping on orders over $100.
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Nature Hills Nursery – Good selection of container-grown river birch trees up to 7 feet tall available. Free shipping on all orders.
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Stark Bro’s – Carries silver birch saplings from 1-4 feet tall. Has both bare root and potted options.
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Fast Growing Trees – Sells smaller potted saplings around 2-3 feet in height. Features low prices and quantity discounts.
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Arbor Day Foundation – Non-profit with birch saplings around 1-2 feet tall. Purchases benefit tree planting projects.
When buying online, check seller reviews, guarantees, shipping charges, and timing recommendations. Most ship bare root saplings in spring or fall.
Purchasing Silver Birch Saplings Locally
You can also buy silver birch saplings in person from:
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Independent nurseries – Often have the best selection of unique and native trees like river birch. Chat with staff for recommendations.
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Big box stores – Home Depot, Lowe’s and others carry a limited range of popular birch varieties.
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Farm co-ops – Some offer birch saplings in bulk quantities for large plantings.
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Conservation districts – Non-profit organizations sell native trees for conservation at low cost.
Shopping local allows you to hand select specific saplings and get expert planting advice. Check inventory and order early as quantities are limited.
Where to Find Silver Birch Saplings by Growing Region
Birch tree availability varies across different climates. Here are top regional sources:
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Northeast – Stewart’s Arbor Farms (NY), Sylva Native Nursery (PA), Toadshade Wildflower Farm (VT)
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Southeast – East Fork Nursery (TN), Halls Nursery (GA), Musser Forests (AL)
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Midwest – Forrest Keeling Nursery (MO), Gier’s Farm (WI), Ion Exchange Nursery (MI)
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West Coast – One Green World (OR), Bay Laurel Nursery (CA), Suncrest Nurseries (WA)
Focus on nurseries that specialize in native trees suited for your specific area.
What Silver Birch Saplings Cost
Silver birch sapling prices depend on size, type, and source. Here are typical per-tree costs:
- Seedlings (~6-12” bare root) – $5 – $15
- Small transplants (1-2’ bare root) – $15 – $30
- Larger transplants (2-4’ bare root) – $25 – $60
- Small container trees (2-4’) – $30 – $70
- Larger container trees (5-7’) – $70 – $150
Ordering in bulk often reduces the per-tree cost. Shop sales for best pricing.
When to Purchase and Plant Birch Saplings
Spring and fall are ideal times to plant new birch saplings:
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Spring – Buy and plant container or dormant bare root saplings as soon as soil thaws in March/April.
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Fall – Purchase and plant between late September to November before ground freezes. Containerized saplings can be planted later.
Avoid planting birch in summer heat or winter cold. Prepare soil before planting and mulch well after. Water deeply at planting and as needed until established.
Guide Summary – Finding the Best Silver Birch Saplings
With their beautiful white bark, silver birch trees make exceptional ornamental specimens. Take time to find and select quality saplings from top sources. Plant them properly in spring or fall. Our guide outlined the key factors in choosing vigorous saplings and where to find them online or locally. Follow these tips and you’ll enjoy stunning silver birch trees in your landscape for years to come.
Silver Birch Natural History and Ancient Wisdom:
On the Isle of Colonsay in the Western Isles of Scotland, Birch boughs were hung over cradles to protect them from fairies. In Welsh lore, birches were associated with love.
In Siberia, tribal peoples, such as the Khanty still use birch bark to make containers for food, and peel off strips of the under bark to use as tinder for fires; the tree is not harmed. They also communicate through runic-like symbols cut into birch trunks as messages for other passing that way; a living signpost! Interestingly, the word birch is thought to have derived from the Sanskrit word bhurga meaning a tree whose bark is used to write upon.
The Silver Birch is, in fact, the national tree of Finland.
In many parts of Northern Europe, birch sap is a traditional drink and main ingredient in birch beer. It is usually consumed fresh or fermented and can be harvested throughout only one month in year. Other names for the drink are birch water and birch juice.
The Birch tree is the first lunar month in the Celtic Tree Calendar and is the tree zodiac sign for people born between December 24th and January 20th. The birch tree is associated with growth, rebirth and renewal and those born under the sign are said to be ambitious and inspiring. Read more about the Birch tree symbolism and meaning.
Silver Birch Botanical Description:
Silver Birch Trees are fast growing, attractive trees. Their trunks are pale in colour with black notches that create deep, diamond shaped fissures along the white bark.
Birch is a pioneer species, which is usually one of the first to colonise a site. Its especially good at taking over old industrial locations and is primarily associated with wet, boggy ground.
Its one of the shortest-lived native trees only living between 40-60 years and when young the bark appears redder, slowly changing white as the tree matures. Bright green leaves emerge in April from red-purple buds and are pointed in an ‘arrowhead’ style and noticeably toothed. The leaves start turning yellow in autumn giving a spectacular display. With the combination of the golden yellow and orange hues the stand out show looks like the tree is on fire!
The birch is a monoecious tree meaning both male and female flowers are present on the same tree. The male catkins are yellow in colour and usually hang in groups of two compared to the short, bright green female catkins.
Birches have a symbiotic relationship with fungi and often develop large bracket fungi on their trunk, called Polypores. Birch also has a close relationship with Scots Pine, growing alongside them in Caledonian forests. With Scots Pine, Birch is our oldest British native tree; after the Ice Age, they were the first to spread over the countryside.
Silver Birch is one of two native birches, the other being Downy Birch, Betula pubescens. Many exotic species of birch are planted in urban settings throughout the UK, including the Himalayan Paper Birch, Betula utilis. The bark of which peels away in large strips. For more information check out our Silver Birch Youtube video here!
Silver Birches Look a Million Bucks But Are SO Cheap
FAQ
What are the disadvantages of silver birch trees?
… main tree that causes allergic symptoms, including seasonal hayfever, asthma, and other health conditions such as food allergies (the oral allergy syndrome)
How much does silver birch cost?
| Small shrubs (1-3) | All other mature trees (any quantity) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland UK ex. Scottish Highlands | £10 | from £55 |
| Scottish Highlands & the Islands | From £30 | |
| Outside Mainland UK | Currently we are unable to deliver outside of Mainland UK |
How quickly do birch saplings grow?
How fast does a birch tree grow? They’re considered fast-growing when provided with the right conditions, including ample sunlight, sufficient water, and well-drained soil. They can grow up to 24 inches or more per year under optimal circumstances.
Is silver birch easy to grow?
The silver birch is easy to maintain given the right moist, cool conditions.
Where are silver birch saplings sourced?
Every sapling that we provide is UK and Ireland sourced and grown to minimise the risk of importing and spreading tree pests and diseases. Seeds are collected and stored in the UK and Ireland, and they are all coded and batched so that we can track each individual tree. Learn more about this species on our silver birch profile.
Where can I buy silver birch trees?
Buy Silver Birch Trees for sale at Trees Direct. A popular fast-growing slender Birch tree with hanging branches and silver-white bark. Order online now.
Do silver birch trees grow in shade?
The Silver Birch is one of our favourite garden trees, instantly recognisable with it’s silvery bark and tall slender form. We love the dappled shade that you get from a silver birch tree once it begins to mature. Silver birch trees are fast growing and will establish well in any soil in a sunny or partially shaded location.
Are silver birch trees good hedging?
Silver Birch, Betula pendula, is a fast growing, native tree with pretty white bark and an airy, semi-weeping canopy that casts light, dappled shade. It likes sunny sites, and will thrive on pretty much any soil except solid chalk. It is not suitable for hedging, and grows to about 25 metres. The plants on this page are young saplings.
What does a silver birch tree look like?
Betula pendula Silver birch is a graceful, attractive tree with light airy foliage and distinctive silvery-white peeling bark. It has triangular-shaped leaves on its elegant, drooping branches. They turn yellow then golden in autumn bringing striking colour to your garden. Look out for the fine display of catkins from spring to autumn.
When are silver birch saplings delivered?
Silver Birch saplings are only delivered bareroot, during winter (Nov-March). Choosing a size: When you are ordering a large quantity of Silver Birch for a big project, we suggest that you buy the smaller plants, graded at 60/80cm. They are cheaper than large plants, easier to handle and more likely to cope well with poor conditions.