Silver Birch

Soils

Silver birch trees are not demanding and are very adaptable to most substrates even dry sandy soils with low nutrient content.

Location

Silver birch love sun light and will bend and grow crooked if in shade.

Annual Growth Rate

Silver birch are fast growing especially in the first 20 years or so, usually between 40-60cm and sometimes up to 80cm per annum.

pH TOLERANCE

Betula pendula can tolerate pH levels from moderately acidic to moderately alkaline

Root Structure

Roots: Intense, shallow dense and extremely sensitive to soil compaction

Potential

Silver birch need light and are very frost hardy with average wind resistance

Annual Pruning

Silver birch will only require pruning to remove any dead or damaged branches

Characteristics

Birch trees are highly prized for their design potential by amateur and professional gardeners alike.

Birch trees are well known for their coloured bark and prized for their design potential by amateur and professional gardeners alike.

The silver birch being the most well-known is a fast-growing British native.
Silver birch has white peeling bark with black grooves that become deeply furrowed with age. It is adaptable to all soil types, is sun loving and will grow crooked if in shade.

The foliage of silver birch is deciduous, triangular or diamond shaped, light green with sawn edges. They are somewhat fragrant and appear early into leaf at the beginning of May. Autumn leaf colour is bright yellow.

Green-yellow catkins appear in March/April.

Silver birch trees can reach a mature height of 15-20 metres