Betula pendula (Silver Birch)

Betula pendula, commonly called silver birch or European white birch, is a graceful medium-sized tree with slender pendulous branches and attractive bark. Golden brown on twigs and young branches, the bark matures to silvery white with black clefts. Smooth in young trees, the bark gets rugged at the base in older trees. Featuring an elegant, pyramidal to oval, rounded habit, it bears ovate, toothed, glossy green leaves, 2.5 in. long (7 cm), which turn yellow in fall before they shed for the winter. In spring, tiny yellowish-brown male flowers appear in drooping catkins, while greenish female flowers appear in upright catkins. The female flowers give way to drooping cone-like fruits containing numerous small winged seeds.

This elegant birch tree is attractive in all seasons and is an excellent small landscape tree in cool northern climates.

The birch family, Betulaceae, includes well-known birch trees such as River Birch, Paper Birch, Yellow Birch, and Silver Birch, all prized for their attractive bark, graceful form, and adaptability to various landscapes.

• Grows up to 30-40 ft. tall (9-12 m) and 15-30 ft. wide (4.5-9 m).
• A full sun or part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in medium to wet, well-drained soils. Tolerates a wide range of soils. It tolerates some dry soils but is best in consistently moist ones.
• Perfect as a specimen plant, in cottage gardens or foundation plantings.
• Low maintenance, this plant needs little pruning. If pruning is necessary, prune during the dormant season and avoid pruning in spring when the sap is running.
• May be affected by sawflies, aphids, rust, and leaf spot.
• Propagate by seed, softwood cuttings, or grafting
• Native from Europe to Asia Minor