Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Spider Alley as a dwarf Silver Birch

boragejohnsonboragejohnson Posts: 50
in Plants
Good morning

My garden will be wildlife-based, and I've been mulling over what tree to have - I've previously planted silver birches in all of my previous gardens, as it's my favourite tree and a real favourite with wildlife.  However they inevitably just get too large for a small garden.

I came across Spider Alley at the local garden centre - it's Betula pendula, so ticks the wildlife boxes, and I can see in the garden centre that insects like the leaves, just as they do any silver birch.  The RHS website states 8m max height/4m spread which is perfect for me and importantly my neighbours, and it seems to fit the bill as a dwarf silver birch.

Does anyone have any experience of this tree, and can you confim the RHS sizes to be accurate?

Thanks   
«13

Posts

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    No personal experience of that particular Birch but hopefully others may have and be able to help.  However, the ultimate height and spread of any plant is often affected by location, ground and aspect.  The guides given by RHS/ nurseries/general suppliers will always be just that - a guide rather than absolutely spot on. 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    What an odd name.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    @Fire - conjures up a similar image to that of the processional caterpillars  :D
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Well yes. With all the arachnophobes in the world I would think the name would put a lot of people off or at least bring them up short.

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited October 2022
    I have silver birch in my garden.  They self-seed profusely.  Wlld-harvest young seedlings, or collect seed.  Keep the generations going, and when the trees begin to reach a good size, say 6in trunk diameter, chop them down, and continue with a succession.

    I usually chop them down with about 5 ft of trunk left standing.  After 2-3 years I lever the root out of the ground.  But leaving the root in situ is a good locus for wildlife, including in my case, stagshorn beetle larvae  and honey fungus.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    You might want to ask the good people of Stone Lane Gardens about birch varieties: https://stonelanegardens.com/

  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    I've not grown this cultivar but I love silver birch and to me their elegance is in their colour and shape, which is why a contorted cultivar, doesn't really appeal. Don't let me put you off it, a quick look around suggests that it will keep the kind of size you mention but have you considered other tree species? There are lots of nice rowan cultivars that would stay small and amelanchiers would fit the bill also, as perhaps a euonymus europaeus, or crabapple would. All are good for wildlife and the gardener, with nice autumn colours. 
    I don't know what your local area is like but silver birches are the most common tree here and by planting something else we can extend the wildlife opportunities. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you're set on having a birch, perhaps a multi stemmed jacquemontii would be better.
    I haven't seen the variety you mention, but I'm inclined to agree with @thevictorian in that the simplicity of most birches is one of their best features, so the contorted branches wouldn't appeal to me either. 
    The other trees mentioned would all be good alternatives though, and rowan would always be my favourite, but if you're in a very dry area, it could struggle. Amelanchiers are very easy, and not fussy as to soil type etc.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • boragejohnsonboragejohnson Posts: 50
    Thanks for the replies folks - much appreciated.

    I ordered 2x Spider Alley a couple of days ago.

    I fully understand the comments about this cultivar being rather unnatural - being a wildlife gardener of sorts, I had real difficulty with that myself.  However, seeing mature-ish specimens of these at the garden centre puts my mind at ease - in the flesh they're rather beautiful - much less like a birch in a straight-jacket, than say eg. fastigiated birch (no offence Monty..).  It also seems that the zig-zaggyness becomes less obvious with age.

    I guess if I change my mind, I can chop em in time.  Good suggestion re looking at other tree species - I've planted 50 feet of mixed-native wildlife hedge last xmas so I've got that particular base covered to an extent.  

    I'll also consider adding 2 dwarf species of other trees to perhaps make a mini-grove - unsure though as this will rob relatively-limited space.   I've planted 3 silver birch before in close proximity and love the effect.  I watched a Love Your Garden the other day where in Manchester, Alan planted 3x Silver Birch together - beautiful but they don't stay 6 feet tall for long...
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    Interesting thread, I'd love to replace my %&;@#;£🤬 crab apple tree, and birch are also my favourites, so thanks for the post, and the replies.
Sign In or Register to comment.