Betula pendula
European White Birch

Family:

Betulaceae (Birch Family) 27

Genus:

Betula (Birch) 12

Plant Type:

Tree 581

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 2 45

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 807

Flowers:

Brown (Greenish-brown catkins; not oranmentally important)

Foliage:

Green (Lustrous medium to dark green summer foliage); Yellow (Poor yellow to greenish-yellow fall color)

Fruit:

Brown (Small brown nutlets; not ornamentally important )

Ultimate Height:

30-40 feet

Ultimate Spread:

15-30 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil:

Prefers moist, well-drained soils; but is wet and dry soil tolerant, and somewhat pH tolerant

Range:

Europe and Asia Minor

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves are 2-4" long by 1.25-2.75" wide, alternate, ovate with a slender apex, and with double serrations. Glands are present on both leaf surfaces. Bark peels slightly and is brown when young, turning chalky white with black fissures in middle age, utimately becoming black late in maturity. Produces catkins at 1.5-3.5" in length.

Special Characteristics:

Wet Soil Tolerant 105

Additional Information

A graceful tree with beautiful white bark and pendulous branches, the European White Birch was once a common tree in many landscapes across the United States. However, the popularity of this species has decreased rapidly due to its extreme susceptibility to the birch borer. Despite its beautiful aesthetics, other birch species, such as Betula nigra (the River Birch), are recommened for use in the landscape instead.