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What is attacking my White stem birch?

JaneA0Bukor3JaneA0Bukor3 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
The stem of my white stem birch (Betula utils var. jacquemontii) has lots of horizitonal lesions (see photo).  Does anyone know what could be causing this damage and how to stop it?  
Thanks J

Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited February 2023
    It does look bad.  Any signs of life higher up?
     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."
  • JaneA0Bukor3JaneA0Bukor3 Posts: 4
    Most of the damage is in the lower 3 - 4 meters of the trunk.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Are you sure it is Jaquemontii? There are other varieties of birch which have trunks like that, especially when the tree is mature.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    it looks normal for a Silver Birch, maybe @Busy-Lizzie is right. Hope you haven't paid jacquemontii money for Betula pendula :(


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • JaneA0Bukor3JaneA0Bukor3 Posts: 4
    I bought it from RHS Wisley and the label is for a jacquemontii.  The marks are all horizontal and don't look like the usual markings on a silver birch.  A lot of the lesions have bark at one end almost as though a bird has been attacking it with it's beak.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    In your place I'd send a photograph to RHS Wisley and ask for their thoughts.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I agree with @nutcutlet and @Busy-Lizzie. That doesn't look like any B. jacquemontii I've ever seen. They're smooth. 
    Looks like one of many varieties that have that bark. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    How long ago did you buy it? How old is the tree? Was it ever smooth and white?
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • JaneA0Bukor3JaneA0Bukor3 Posts: 4
    I bought the tree 20 years ago.  It's had this problem with the bark for many years.  I can't remember if these lesions have always been present but as said they don't look like the usual lenticels.  Thanks for all your comments
    Jane
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Do you have woodpeckers?

    This is the bark of a mature Betula pendula. I don't think yours is quite the same. I would do as @Dovefromabove suggested and send a photo to the RHS.



    I have cropped your photo, below, and turned it. The bark between the dark bits does look like Jaquemontii, but my tree in my old garden was over 30 and still smooth and white.


    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
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