Betula albosinensis of Garden Merit. Betula albosinensis Betula albosinensis, the "'Chinese red birch"), syn. "B. bhojpattra" var. "sinensis", "B. utilis" var. "sinensis", is a species of birch in the family Betulaceae, native to Western China. It is a deciduous tree growing to . A particular feature is the peeling brown bark (cream when newly exposed). In fact the Latin specific name "albosinensis" means "white, from China". Brown catkins are produced in Spring. "Betula albosinensis" is grown as an ornamental tree for parks and large gardens, and numerous cultivars have been produced. The cultivars 'China Rose' and 'Red Panda' have gained the Royal
Alnus cordata with a very long season in leaf, from April to December in the Northern Hemisphere; they are alternate, cordate (heart-shaped), rich glossy green, 5–12 cm long, with a finely serrated margin. The slender cylindrical male catkins are pendulous, reddish and up to 10 cm long; pollination is in early spring, before the leaves emerge. The female catkins are ovoid, when mature in autumn 2–3 cm long and 1.5–2 cm broad, dark green to brown, hard, woody, and superficially similar to some conifer cones. The small winged seeds disperse through the winter, leaving the old woody, blackish 'cones' on the tree