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Silver Birch

Betula pendula

Shade treeDeciduousFrost Hardy

Silver birch is a fast-growing native pioneer tree with white, peeling bark that becomes dark and fissured at the base, and slender, pendulous twigs. Its loose, open crown casts light shade, and it flowers with catkins in April, releasing large amounts of allergenic pollen.

Overview

Height15–25 m
Crown diameter8–15 m
Root systemShallow-rooted
ShadeLight shade
SunFull Sun
WaterMedium
HardinessUSDA zones 2–7

Seasons

Flowering (Central Europe)Apr

Planting time for bare-root trees. Container trees can be planted whenever the soil is workable.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

None

Bad Companions

None

Only relations with a documented cause are listed.

Toxicity

SeverityNon-toxic

Listed as not toxic (as a rule) by the nursery data sheet; no ASPCA entry was found. Note: birch produces large amounts of wind-borne pollen, a major allergen for pollen allergy sufferers.

Planting Tips

LocationFull sun; a strongly light-demanding pioneer. Not tolerant of urban climate, sea wind or paved areas.
SoilLoose, light soils, including poor sandy soils; reacts badly to soil compaction, raised soil levels and fluctuating water tables.
WateringTolerates dry soil once established, but water young trees regularly in dry spells.
FertilizingNo species-specific fertiliser requirement documented in the sources used; grows on nutrient-poor soils.

Care Tip: Roots spread close to the surface with a high fine-root density in the topsoil, competing strongly with underplanting and lifting paving. Prune sparingly.

Sources