A popular ornamental species due to its striking bark, but highly variable in form, making identification difficult. Introduced 1890.

Native to eastern Asia, including Japan, Korea, and Siberia.

Monoecious. Wind-pollinated. Wind-dispersed.

Medium-tall (24m), often multi-stemmed when open-grown. Bark creamy white with peachy-gold hints, orange-pink on branches, peeling horizontally in curling strips. Twigs glabrous, dotted with wart-like glandular lenticels. Leaves pale green, ovate, straight at the base then tapering to a point, coarsely and irregularly serrate, with 7-11 impressed vein pairs, glandular on both surfaces. Flowers before the leaves: male catkins dumpy, female pendulous (4-6cm).

Vigorous and hardy, capable of growing in poor soils and rocky ground, tolerant of urban pollution but not of salt-laden winds. Many ornamental cultivars available.

No notable associations where introduced.

Generally healthy.

Attractive ornamental all year round, with striking bark, delicate pale leaves and golden autumnal foliage.