Downy Birch
Betula pubescens
Also known as
Common White Birch, Moor Birch, European White Birch, Silver Birch, White birch, Common white birch, Birch
Betula pubescens by Emr (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Full Sun
Moderate watering
Frost Hardy
H7
RHS hardiness
-20°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
---|---|---|
20m | Max | 8m |
12m | Min | 4m |
25 years to reach maturity
Flowering
-
spring
-
summer
-
autumn
-
winter


More images of 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.
Common problems with Downy Birch
How to propagate Downy Birch
Seed
Cuttings
Grafting
Special features of Downy Birch
Attractive leaves
Autumn colour
Other uses of Downy Birch
Specimen, found in bog areas and woodland.