Downy Birch

Downy Birch Overview

Betula pubescens is known commonly by the name Downy Birch, amongst others. It is a deciduous tree species in the Betulaceae family. It has a slender, upright habit, producing softly hairy shoots, which gently droop with age and oval to diamond-shaped leaves. These display attractive autumn colouration, turning yellow. This species grows further north in comparison to other broadleaf species in Britain. Flowering occurs in early spring, around April to May in the UK and this plant is wind-pollinated. This plant is termed monoecious as it produces both male and female flowers, female flowers are green in colour and short. The male flowers are long and yellow-brown in colour, arranged in groups of between 2-4 at shoot tips, they are thought to resemble lambs tails. If pollination occurs, the female flowers turn dark red and thicken, leading onto small seeds in the autumn.