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Dakota Pinnacle Birch – Caring and Propagation Tips!

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Dakota pinnacle birch is considered one of the hardest birch available in the market. It is also known as the Japanese white birch.

These trees were first discovered growing near Dakota state university’s arboretum in Absaraka. Boe, a scientist working in the university, collected the seed from the tree growing near his workplace and planted it in the university’s campus located in Fargo.

These seedlings were kept under observation for many years; however, in the year 1989, the seedling was seen to be growing in size. After observing for three more years, it was propagated by the grafting and tissue culture method.

These trees were named ‘Fargo’ after several hardinesses and bore resistance tests which later changed to ‘Dakota Pinnacle Birch’.

Dakota Pinnacle Birch
Dakota Pinnacle Birch via Pinterest

Characteristics of Dakota Pinnacle Birch

Shape

These trees resemble the shape of the pyramids as their long white bark with an upright habit extends itself with its top covered with a pyramid of dark green foliage. These trees have a unique appearance that distinguishes them from other landscape plants present in the surroundings.

Planting

It should be planted carefully in the hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. You can use a layer of mulch to ensure that the roots are protected. In the planting stage, it should be watered deeply into the soil to help settle at its place as soon as possible.

Foliage

The foliage of the tree changes with the changing seasons throughout the year, making it the top priority of every plant lover to have it in their garden.

In the month of March and April, the flowers of the tree intensify their beauty, but this is just the start of its endless charm. These flowers remain there till the month of May, when dark green leaves replace them to represent the true beauty of nature.

The dark green foliage is not where it all ends, as butter yellow color foliage welcomes the eyes of the beholder with its astounding appearance.

Height and width

Pinnacle Birch can grow up to 40 feet high and 10 feet wide. They can grow up to 5 feet in a year, and it takes about ten years for them to reach their mature size.

The catkins (Pinnacle Birch flower) grow up to 4 inches long, with the leaves reaching the maximum size just above 2 inches.

Growing zones

The growing zones of these trees are 3 to 7. It is an extremely hardy tree, making it the best choice for the northern gardens.

Wind resistant

Strong winds can be dangerous for the trees, causing them to fall if they reach the maximum resistance level. Dakota Pinnacle birch can resist winds up to 100 miles per hour, making them one of the strongest birches in the market.

Caring tips for Dakota Pinnacle Birch

These trees are easy to care for as they are strong and resistant to most of the environmental challenges they face. Following are the few requirements for the tree to grow healthy and strong.

Sunlight

They require partial shade to full sun for ideal growth. Growing outside where the full sun reaches is preferred, but they do quite well under partial sunlight, unlike any other tree, which makes their planting and growing comparatively easier for the caretaker.

Soil

It is recommended that you use moist and slightly acidic soil. These trees can also be grown in ordinary garden soil because of their ability to adapt to different conditions. These trees are highly resistant to urban pollution, making them a good choice to grow in inner-city environments.

Pruning

Pruning is not mandatory for this tree. It can be trimmed occasionally for shaping purposes, but it is advised that you prune it in the summer season as spring season pruning can cause the tree to bleed sap.

Water requirements

Watering should be done on a daily basis in the hotter zones, while the requirements decrease as you move towards the cooler areas of the world. The roots must be kept moist in order to keep the tree hydrated and healthy.

Fertilizer

It does not require a lot of feeding to grow well; however, a tree fertilizer can be used in the spring season to maximize the tree’s growth rate.

Propagating Dakota Pinnacle Birch

Dakota Pinnacle Birch can be propagated with tissue culture, soft woodcutting, or grafting. To propagate the tree with the softwood cutting method, you should follow the steps below in a sequence to ensure proper tree propagation.

  • Choose a branch that is younger than the rest; these branches are often called softwoods or semi-ripe as they can bend easily.
  • After choosing the most flexible branch, cut about 3 to 4 leaf nodes. Make sure that the leave nodes are about 6 to 8 inches long.
  • Take a sharp pruning pear and cut under the leaf node less than .25 inches below.
  • Remove the leaves from the bottom, leaving only the ones at the top of the branch.
  • Keep the cut covered by a plastic bag with moisture in it, as drying them out can decrease the chance of success drastically.
  • Treat the cutting with a rooting hormone.
  • Take equal sand and peat moss concentrations in a pot and wet the mixture.
  • Plant the cuttings in the mixture after making a hole of about 3 inches depth.
  • Make sure that you keep the soil moist to maximize the success rate.

Conclusion

Dakota Pinnacle Birch is one of the most durable trees to own. They can resist almost everything that hits them, whether it be pests preparing to attack, the wind trying to bring them down, or pollution hitting it with all its might.

They are also resilient to the changing temperatures, multiplying their beauty even more than negatively affecting it. The durability is not the only reason behind the success of Dakota Pinnacle Birch.

Their color-changing foliage gives them different shades of beauty with the changing seasons, making them one of the most eye-catching trees to have in the current times.