I've been looking at this is-it-a-weed for at least three weeks. Just one stem, or is it a trunk? Does it look like something deliberately planted by the Parks Board at the edge of this perennial bed outside their office, right at the edge of a paved path? The shape of the leaves, and the dots on the leaf surface and stems look birch-like to me. I thought maybe a seedling, but the only birch in the neighbourhood is a weeping one about seven meters away, across the path, and there are no other similar-looking plants anywhere near it or near this youngster. Still, is this what weeping birches start off looking like? The first photo is from September 11; the rest are from today. The last photo is the weeping birch.
@wcutler, I like your characterization of 'is-it-a-weed' which curiosity I think is the hallmark of a very-involved gardener. I can't tell how many times I've found something interesting in the garden and, instead of yarding it out as I probably should, I've left it for a time to observe and reveal its identity. As long as the mystery plant doesn't go to seed, there's no harm, right? The only time I've really regretted that approach is when I discovered a fascinating little 'thing' that reminded me of the prothallus of a fern. Such anticipation! When I learned it was liverwort, it was too late - but maybe the conditions were ripe for it to invade regardless.
@wcutler good afternoon Wendy, looks like a Betula pendula seedling to me. With the parent in the background it has to be a good bet.
The leaf shape and bark certainly look like Silver Birch, but I've never seen one that purple - is there a purple foliage cultivar nearby?
This is a possibility Betula pendula subsp. pendula 'Purpurea', but I can't see anything in Wendy's photo.
I'm not the most observant person, but the only other birches, which I haven't noticed but see in a photo, are some 'Darlecarlica' maybe 100 meters away.
I see 4 views of the assumed purple seedling and a 'Youngii' in the last shot. If the purple one is a spontaneous seedling then it will not be genetically the same as any existing named cultivar. Of which the best one to date may be 'Royal Frost'. This is said to be of hybrid origin rather than a pure form of B. pendula.
Thanks, Ron. The Betula 'Royal Frost' in this photo: Betula pendula Royal Frost - Purple Birch looks remarkably similar to the assumed seedling, definitely close enough to convince me that it's a birch tree and to give me an idea of what it would grow up to look like. Speaking of which, the photos I'm seeing are not showing a weeping tree. This can't be all that rare - I see that Lowe's Bellingham carries it: https://www.lowes.com/pd/8-9-Gallon...ature-Tree-in-Pot-With-Soil-L24036/1000022187 I wonder if the Parks Board could have deliberately planted it here with plans to move it later.
