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Seeking A Silver Birch

themanfromvolantisthemanfromvolantis Posts: 44
in Plants
Hello there. Its my dad's 70th in July and I was going to get him a silver birch tree. I wanted something that's reasonably tall already. Can anyone reccommend a retailer where they sell them?

I have had a quick look online but Google is rather less useful than it used to be and I don't really know a good specimen from a poor one. 

I don't mind paying a bit extra for something decent. In my head, I'm picturing something around 8ft high but I don't know if that's realistic to be delivered or whether I should settle for something smaller. 

Any help appreciated. Sorry if my post breaks any forum rules. Feel free to message me instead if you prefer. 

Also, is that a decent 70th gift? He has said he wanted one in the past. 
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  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    I have used this company, always arrived safely 
    https://www.mailordertrees.co.uk/products/betula-pendula-silver-birch-tree?_pos=1&_sid=7788cb6b4&_ss=r
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited June 2020
    Super idea for a 70th birthday .
    Smaller will establisher more quickly .
    Try Bluebell nursery.
    Also check out many of the named special wonderful Betula...birch trees that are now available. Betula pendula is not the best any more for a small garden.

    https://www.bluebellnursery.com/102-Betula

    Or visit any good garden centre and chose the exact specimen you like/want...size, bark, shape etc.

    Many will have been grown by excellent expert tree grower Frank Matthews.UK...link has 3 pages.

    https://www.frankpmatthews.com/catalogue/betula
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 429
    Buckingham nursery are good for trees and hedging. They seem to deliver fairly promptly too. Sorry no idea how i post a link though!
  • themanfromvolantisthemanfromvolantis Posts: 44
    Thanks both. 
  • themanfromvolantisthemanfromvolantis Posts: 44
    I just visited the website of Frank Mathews. He is based in Tenbury Wells which is reasonably close to where I live. Cheers. 
  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    @themanfromvolantis just as a guide we planted a tiny 2ft sapling 2 years ago and it's now 10ft tall. We've been amazed at the speed of growth. It's a betula jacqumontii (spellings were never my strong point) 
  • themanfromvolantisthemanfromvolantis Posts: 44
    Wow that's some great growth. That helps. Cheers
  • KiliKili Posts: 1,104
    themanfromvolantis said:
    Wow that's some great growth. That helps. Cheers
    Be prepared for it to get big. I took 3 down which had grown to over 35 feet in height in my small garden ( They were there when I bought the house). 

    'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.

    George Bernard Shaw'

  • SuesynSuesyn Posts: 664
    We have had trees from mail order trees and they have been excellent, well packaged and swift delivery. We bought 3 jacmontii, about 2m tall 5 years ago and now they are about 5m tall. 
  • Fran IOMFran IOM Posts: 2,872
    @themanfromvolantis
    I have a Silver Birch on my allotment which was planted about two years ago from a local nursery. The advice I would like to offer along with all the other information you have received is to make sure it is securely staked. Mine is well staked with a strong wooden post and plastic ties allowing space between the trunk and post. Without that with the gale force winds we have had I doubt it would still be standing. It is now at least 10ft high. 
    You can just about make out mine in the photo below and below that a photo of a mature Silver Birch which I doubt my great great grandchildren will ever witness.  :)
    Personally I wouldn't have chosen one but my son was insistent. 
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