Betula utilis of the tree's native distribution, several forms have orange- or copper-colored bark. "Betula utilis" var. "jacquemontii", from the western end of the native habitat, is widely used because several cultivars have especially white bark. These include: Those cultivars marked have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. "B. utilis" 'Fascination' has an orange- to mahogany-colored bark, which peels off to reveal a polished-looking layer underneath. The bark of 'Wakehurst Place Chocolate', as the name implies, is dark brown to nearly black. Betula utilis Betula utilis (Himalayan birch, bhojpatra, "bhūrjá") is a birch tree native to the Himalayas, growing
Betula lenta male catkins pendulous, the female catkins erect. The fruit, maturing in fall, is composed of numerous tiny winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts. Seed production mainly occurs in trees that are between 40 and 200 years old, although light crops may occur as early as 15 years and as long as the tree lives. Contrary to common knowledge, the lifespan of "B. lenta" is typically around 200 years, and many individuals will reach 250 and even 300 years. The oldest known "B. lenta" has been confirmed to be 368 years old, and the species may live even longer than