Woody > Betula > Betula pendula > Betula pendula
Betula pendula
European White Birch
Origin: Europe.
Mike's
Opinion
"
Should be sited with care in our gardens because of the typical Ontario summer drought. Prolonged stress exposes the plant to the greater risk of birch borer infestations.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Betulaceae |
| Genus |
| Betula |
| Species |
| pendula |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 2 - 6 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 0a - 5b |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -46 - (-21) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -50 - (-5) |
| Height |
| 25 m |
| Spread |
| 15 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Graceful pendulous branching tree. This tree has been placed on the IUCN Red List as least concern. |
| Landscape |
| Once a popular tree in the landscape the dreaded birch borer has destroyed its reputation. The better choice is now Betula nigra |
| Cultivation |
| Transplants easily but should be moved in the spring. Needs a lot of moisture but site should be well drained. |
| Shape |
| Drooping with a somewhat rounded crown. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Pure white bark and delicate diamond-shaped leaves that droop. |
| Pests |
| Suffers from extensive Bronze Birch Borer and Leaf Miner and unless adequate moisture is supplied will experience stress. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| White, does not exfoliate as much as B.papyrifera. B. pendula at maturity can become blackened with a small amount of white. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Imbricate, curved, pointed, brownish black. |
| Leaf Description |
| Alternate, simple, broadly ovate, 2.5-5.5 cm long to 2.5 cm wide, dark green, leafs out early in spring. |
| Flower Description |
| Staminate 3.5-8.5 cm long usually in pairs. |
| Fruit Description |
| Small nutlet in cylindrical catkins, shed in autumn. |
| Colour Description |
| Glossy green in summer changing to yellow in autumn. |
| Texture Description |
| Medium to fine in leaf. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England. |
| Propagation |
| Seed will germinate with proper light treatment or 2-3 months of stratification at 5°C. |
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