Alphabetical Plant Listing

Betula pendula (Silver Birch)

Silver Birch, Bed Wen, Birk Tree, Common Birch, European White Birch, Lady Birch, Lady of the Woods, Warty Birch, Weeping 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.

Attractive in all seasons, this elegant birch tree is an excellent small landscape tree in cool northern climates.

  • 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. 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

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Requirements

Hardiness 2 – 7
Heat Zones 1 – 7
Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Betula - Birches
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 30' – 40' (9m – 12m)
Spread 15' – 30' (4.5m – 9m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United Kingdom
Tolerance Deer
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

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vodolej / 123RF Stock Photo

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 2 – 7
Heat Zones 1 – 7
Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Betula - Birches
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 30' – 40' (9m – 12m)
Spread 15' – 30' (4.5m – 9m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United Kingdom
Tolerance Deer
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

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Guides with Betula - Birches

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