European Birch, Silver Birch
Betula pendula

Family: Betulaceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It grows 15-25 m tall. It spreads to 6-9 m wide. The bark is white. The branches hang downwards. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are diamond shape. Some have deeply lobed leaves. The leaves are 3-7 cm long. There is a tapering tip. The male or pollen catkins are in groups of 2-4. The mature seed catkins are 2-4 cm long. They hang down. They are at the end of twigs. The female catkins are upright.

There are about 60 Betula species. They grow in cool north temperate climates.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is native to North Asia and Europe. It grows in temperate broad-leaved forests between 500–2300 m altitude in China. It can grow in many soil types. It is very hardy. It needs to be in full sun. It does best in sandy soils with a pH below 6.5. It does poorly in alkaline soils. It suits hardiness zones 2-9. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania. National Arboretum Canberra.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andorra, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Belarus, Bosnia, Britain (country/location of origin), Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Europe, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mongolia, North America, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Serbia, Siberia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA

How it is used for food

The sap has a sweet flavour and is eaten. Wine is made from the sap. The sap can also be made into vinegar. The young leaves can be eaten fresh in salads or lightly cooked as a vegetable. The inner bark is powdered and cooked and eaten. The flower spikes are milled into flower and added to bread.

The sap is drunk or frozen by children.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, sap - wine, bark

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinate easily.

It is fast growing. Trees can yield 82 litres per tree during a week in early spring.

Its other names

Local names

Berzs, Biaroza, Breza, Briza belokora, Chui zhi hua, European white birch, Jajaknamu, Lady of the woods, Majfa, Navadna breza, Nyir, Nyirfa, Weeping birch

Synonyms

Betula verrucosa Ehrhart.; Betula alba;