Plant encyclopedia›silver birch

silver birch

Also known as: bed wen; birk tree; common birch; European white birch; lady birch; lady of the woods; warty birch; weeping birch

Elegant, narrowly conical, deciduous tree up to 25m in height, with slender drooping twigs. Peeling white bark, becomes black and rugged at the base. Diamond-shaped, toothed, mid-green leaves, turn yellow in autumn. Flowers in catkins are yellow-brown and appear in early spring

Scientific classification

Species: silver birch (Betula pendula)
Genus: Betula
Family: Betulaceae

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Toxicity: Trees
Plant type: Higher than 12 metres
Height: wider than 8 metres
Spread: Deciduous
Foliage: Pendulous weeping
Habit: Autumn · Spring · Summer · Winter
Season of interest: Full sun · Partial shade
Sunlight: 15 – 25 °C
Ideal temperature

silver birch pictures

Distribution of silver birch

Distribution map

Western Eurasia

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Culture

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Toxicity

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Quick identification of silver birch

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silver birch care guide

Keep soil moist, especially in dry periods
Watering: Full sun · Partial shade
Sunlight: 15 – 25 °C
Ideal temperature

Watering

Keep soil moist, especially in dry periods

Fertilizing

Once in early spring and once in mid-summer

Pruning

Little pruning is needed. Remove diseased, damaged, crowded or crossing shoots and unwanted growth. Timing depends on the plant: generally late winter or early spring; plants prone to bleeding and deciduous magnolias need different timing, and deciduous azaleas and lilacs are pruned after flowering.