Himalayan birch (Betula utilis var. jacquemontii)

Himalayan birch is small tree (up to 20m tall) or shrub. The variety jacquemontii, from the western part of habitat, has shining white bark and thus is widely grown as ornamental tree. The thin, papery bark is very shiny and peels of in broad belts. Because of that it was formerly used as writing material. Even now sacred mantras for amulets are written on it.

Himalayan birch prefers moist well-drained soil. Full sun or half-shadow.