- Botanical name: Betula pendula
- Common name: Silver birch
- Family: Betulaceae
- Plant Type: Tree, Deciduous
Green
- Key features:
- Attractive to wildlife
- Colourful bark
- Flowers
The silver or common birch, Betula pendula, is a fantastic tree, grown for its silver-white bark, spring catkins and pretty yellow autumn foliage. It’s a medium-sized, deciduous tree and is a British native. It is a fantastic choice for wildlife, supporting over 300 species of insect and attracting birds such as greenfinches and siskins, which eat the seeds.
Silver birch has a graceful, upright habit which gradually becomes weeping with maturity and a light canopy, so it casts dappled shade. Silver birch is a speedy grower (around 50cm a year) and relatively short-lived (to around 60 years). The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Silver birch is a favourite with garden designers. It is often planted in groups or as a multi-stemmed tree – the white bark looks especially good in winter and is perfect for showing off woodland planting underneath. Silver birch makes a good screen or windbreak and also works well as a specimen tree in a large garden.
If you’re looking for a birch for a smaller garden, buy a small whip tree (you can plant three in the same hole for a multi-stemmed look) or small sapling, or choose Betula pendula ‘Fastigiata’, which has a more upright growth habit. Or consider the slightly smaller Himalayan birch, which also has more vivid white bark.
Betula pendula thrives in most soils and situations. It can tolerate air pollution and copes well in an urban environment. It can even cope with occasional waterlogging. For the best results grow in moist but well-drained soil in sun to partial shade.
More on growing Betula pendula:
Where to buy Betula pendula
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How to grow Betula pendula
-
Plant size
25m height
10m spread
-
Aspect
North facing, south facing, east facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Back
- Sun exposure: Dappled shade, full sun, partial shade
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Acidic / clay / heavy / moist / well drained / light / sandy
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do not Plant in May |
J
Do not Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do Plant in September |
O
Do Plant in October |
N
Do Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does flower in March |
A
Plant does flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does not flower in July |
A
Plant does not flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
Betula pendula and wildlife
Betula pendula is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, birds, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It is a caterpillar food plant, has nectar/pollen rich flowers, is used for nesting materials, provides shelter and habitat, has seeds for birds and makes a good wildlife hedge.
Attractive to Bees
Attractive to Beneficial insects
Attractive to Birds
Attractive to Butterflies/Moths
Attractive to Other pollinators
Is Betula pendula poisonous?
Betula pendula has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
