Betula 'Royal Frost' , or Birch, is an upright, pyramidal tree typically grown as an ornamental and known for its white bark and colorful red-purple leaves and yellow-orange fall foliage. Betula is Latin for birch and describes a genus of about 60 species of deciduous trees and shrubs found in many gardens and landscapes throughout the northern hemisphere. 'Royal Frost' is a hybrid cross between Betula populifolia 'Whitespire' (which gives it white bark) and Betula 'Crimson Frost' (responsible for the unusual purple leaves). 'Royal Frost' is best grown in moist, acidic, sandy or rocky, well-drained loams in full sun to part shade. Best foliage color occurs in full sun, but if the plant is sited in an area of summer heat and humidity, it will appreciate afternoon partial shade. 'Royal Frost' does best in cool northern climates where summer temperatures rarely exceed 75 degrees F. and where root zones are generally covered with snow throughout the winter. Keep the tree consistently moist and consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist. It needs little pruning, but if necessary, you can prune during the dormant season. Do not prune in winter or spring when the sap is running because it will bleed. Birches are considered a "pioneer" species and, thus, tends to grow quickly when young. ‘Royal Frost’ typically matures over time to 30-40' tall and to 15-20' wide. Tiny monoecious (male and female) flowers appear in early spring in separate catkins on the same tree. Greenish female flowers are followed by drooping cone-like fruits containing numerous small winged seeds that typically mature in late summer. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: This cultivar can become stressed by summer heat and humidity. It is not recommended for planting south of USDA Zone 7. If stressed, birches can become vulnerable to the bronze birch borer which infects and kills trees. Aphids, leaf miner and birch skeletonizer may also occur. Watch for leaf spot problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Often confused withBetula populifolia 'Whitespire'
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Mature size
Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Pyramidal
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Doubly Serrate; Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves often appear in pairs, but these pairs are really borne on spur-like, two-leaved, lateral branchlets.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower color
Green
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Catkin
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Tiny green flowers appear in early spring. Both male and female flowers appear on the same tree.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit detail
Female flowers produce cone-like fruits with winged seeds. The fruit is a small samara, although the wings may be obscure in some species.
Bark color
White
Bark detail
The bark is characteristically marked with long, horizontal lenticels, and often separates into thin, papery plates. Attractive white bark makes for great winter interest in the landscape.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern Canada and Northeastern United States
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Samara
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area
Landscape theme
Rain Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Specimen
Garden tags
#green flowers #flowers early spring #interesting bark #fall interest #white bark #winter interest #deer resistant #fall color orange #fall color yellow #upright form #pyramidal