Silver Birch

Betula pendula

Birch family (Betulaceae)

Origin: Europe

Description: Slender, open-crowned tree up to 30m but often only half this size. Bark silvery white, developing large black diamond-shaped fissures. Larger branches upwardly angled but smaller ones and twigs pendulous, giving a graceful weeping appearance. Young shoots with pale warts. Leaves alternate, roughly ovate or triangular to diamond-shaped with a tapered tip and rounded base; margins toothed or double-toothed, both surfaces dotted with tiny glands. Male catkins 3-6cm, slender, pendulous, pale yellow; females 2-3cm, green, erect. Fruiting catkins pedulous, breaking up when ripe to release small, winged seeds.

Comments: A comparatively short-lived tree. The white bark with black, diamond-shaped fissures and the weeping branches are distinctive.

Similar trees:

• Himalayan White Birch