Sheffield's Seed Company Page

Introducing the impressive Betula schmidtii, also known as Schmidt's Birch. This deciduous tree can grow up to 100 ft at a remarkable pace. It has with a black or black-brown fissured bark. The ovate or elliptic leaf blades are subleathery, shiny, and can grow up to 8 cm by 4.5 cm. The female inflorescence is erect, oblong-cylindric and can grow up to 3 cm by 7-8 mm. While the aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons in birch tar can be irritating to the skin, Schmidt's Birch is safe to grow in USDA hardiness zones 4-8. It's found in temperate broad-leaved forests at elevations of 2000-25000 ft in East Asia, including Japan, Korea, and Manchuria. Its hard, heavy wood makes it a valuable resource for creating rollers and mallets. If you're interested in growing your own Schmidt's Birch, it's best to sow the seed as soon as it's ripe in a light position in a cold frame. Overall, Betula schmidtii is an impressive tree with many uses and a fast-growing nature.