Well, having had a couple Betula as bonsai, and having read a considerable amount about their container culture, I can say that they are not the best choice for/as a container plant. They are susceptible to a variety of insects & diseases, especially if they are growing with reduced vitality, and just when you think you have them looking good, they tend to lose (they die) key branches for no apparent reason.

If you like the twiggy look of Betula, perhaps a Zelkova or Carpinus (hornbeam) might suit you better - both/either will do well in containers. Most trees you select will need winter protection in a garage or building or by burying the container next to a dwelling, out of winter sun and wind.

If you have a shape you like in a tree or particular features, let us know, so we have more to go on.

Al

Thanks Al!

I currently have several River birch. They are different from paper birch, in that they are not as brittle and more disease resistant, yet still have the wonderful leaves and somewhat shaggy bark.

I love the sound of the leaves and silvery look in the wind. Maybe quaking aspen or poplar? Poplar has non shaggy but whitish bark as well.

I want a tree that is a moving tree and has some interest rather than just standing there. I am not looking for a flowering tree.

Does that help?

I would not suggest a river birch as a container plant. While the River birch is a bit more hardy than the 'regular' birch, they get all sorts of problems if they are not kept in constantly moist soil.

In a container this will prove difficult, but I suppose not impossible.

I have a river birch in my yard and it isn't likely to remain in my yard much longer as it is the sickliest, highest maintenance plant I have in my yard. During the summer it needs to be sprayed with summer oils to combat the aphids and other sucking pests. These pests attack the tree because the tree isn't getting enough water where I have it planted.

During a drought last summer I lost all leaves twice and one of three trunks might be dead at this point. This was with my running a soaker hose around the drip line all summer.

So, long story short, a river birch growing in anything but ideal conditions results in a disease/pest magnet. The only sense the river birch is hardier than the white birch is it's resistance to the birch borer.

I mean go ahead and try it if your heart is set on it, but understand they aren't particularly forgiving trees. Expect a lot of time spent trying to coax the tree into acceptable health.

I would agree that birch would not make the best deck plant...they are messy, and so often have an aphid issue. You'd have that honeydew problem going on, and likely a sticky deck unless you planned to spray...let's save the spraying for the roses :)

I have decided not to go with the birch but to follow Al's advice.
However, I should explain that the River Birch's in our yard are growing in sand and have no special watering or care. They went through three years of drought here in Minnesota and yet did well. They do not drop twigs or branches nor do they drop sap. Nor have they exhibited any disease. It could be the very cold weather that protects them from disease.

Perhaps you have different cultivars, but mine show none of the bad attributes you speak of.