Chinese red-barked birch China Ruby Smaller than most Chinese red-barked birches, Betula albosinensis China Ruby is an ideal tree for small gardens. Beautiful tree in all seasons, it forms a graceful, slow-growing, small to medium-sized, deciduous tree with a twiggy, open crown. The shiny, coppery-russet bark peels to reveal pale chestnut and cream patches, and is especially lovely when the tree is planted where it can be back-lit by the winter sun. The pointed, ovate leaves are green, turning yellow in autumn. The honey-coloured male catkins are particularly long, nearly 4”/10cm, an invaluable early food source for wild-life. Chinese red-barked birch China Ruby holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Site: Tolerates exposureSoil: Any reasonably well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeHardiness: Fully hardyHeight: 33’ (10m) Spread: 13’’ (4m) in 20 years