Buy silver birch ( syn. Betula alba ) Betula pendula

Betula pendula

silver birch ( syn. Betula alba )

Diamond-shaped, bright green leaves hang from graceful, pendant branches. It is a fast-growing tree with white, peeling bark that becomes marked with black, rugged cracks as it gets older. In spring, yellow-brown male catkins appear and in late autumn the foliage turns yellow before falling. It is one of the most widely used birches, grown for its narrow, conical shape and ability to grow in almost all soils and situations. The white bark, develops fully when the tree is around 8 years old.

All the Betulas we supply are single-stemmed unless stated, but they can be plantted close together to creat a multi-stemmed effect.

How to care for Betula pendula:

Birches dont need much pruning, but you may want to remove any diseased or crossing branches. It is essential that any pruning work is carried out between late summer to mid winter as the sap will 'bleed' heavily at other times. When planting incorporate lots of well-rotted garden compost in the planting and stake well.

Eventual height:

25m

Eventual spread:

10m

Position:

Full sun / light shade

Rate of growth:

Fast-growing

Soil:

Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil

Hardiness:

Fully hardy

This tree is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.