Betula pendula
formerly B. alba and B. verrucosa
European White Birch
2 to 6
Northern Europe (including U.K.), especially high altitudes and parts of Northern Asia.

Pyramidal to oval canopy.
40 to 50 feet - Medium to fast growth rate.
Staminate flowers 1.5 to 3 inches in length usually in 2's.
 
Alternate, simple, broadly ovate, sometimes rhomboidal to diamond-shaped, 1 to 3” long, 3/4 to 1 1/2” wide, slenderly tapered at apex, broadly wedge-shaped or truncate at base; doubly serrate, glabrous, lustrous dark green, dotted with glands on both surfaces; petiole-1/2 to 3/4” long.
 
lmbricate, curved, pointed, brownish black.
Whitish, does not peel (exfoliate) to degree of Paper Birch; with age trunk becomes black with relatively small amount of white bark showing.
Small nutlet about 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches long in cylindrical catkins.

Birch leaf miner and bronze birch borer.

 

  • ‘Birkaiensis’(Also spelled ‘Bircaiensis’) - Each leaf has 3 or 4 acute lobes on each margin that reach one half way to the middle, tree is columnar in habit.
     

  • var. crispa - Confused with ‘Dalecarlica’ but the leaves are more regularly and less deeply cut; often listed as ‘Laciniata’
     

  • ‘Dalecarlica’ - A very distinct tree, branches and leaves pendulous; the leaves are lobed to within 1/8 to 1/4” of the midrib, the lobes lanceolate, coarsely toothed with long slender points, ends of basal lobes curving backward.
     

  • ‘Elegans’ - Branches hanging almost perpendicularly, leader erect.
     

  • ‘Fastigiata’ - Branches erect, of columnar habit, resembling a Lombardy Poplar.
     

  • ‘Golden Cloud’ - lntroduced by Bressingham Gardens in England for ‘the gleaming’ bark of the Silver (White) Birch and in late spring reddish shoots emerge, unfolding as bright golden leaves. The leaves become deeper gold in the summer in sun, less intense in partial shade; fall color is yellow.
     

  • ‘Gracilis’ - A small tree without a central leader (15 to 20’), with finely cut leaves and drooping branches; stems are produced in clusters like elongated witches brooms, almost ponytail-like.
     

  • ‘Obelisk' - Upright like ‘Fastigiata’ with a narrower crown and whiter bark; strong straight ascending branches, leaves normal.
     

  • ‘Purple Rain’ - New foliage displays vivid purple color that is retained through the season.
     

  • ‘Purpurea’ - Leaves deep reddish purple gradually losing the strong color during the summer.
     

  • ‘Rocky Mountain Splendor' - Broadly pyramidal to oval tree with medium green summer foliage that turns yellow in fall, has white bark.
     

  • ‘Tristis’ - A clone similar to ‘Elegans’ developing a central leader, the side branches extending and arching, forming a tall ovate crown, leaves normal.

 
 

 

 
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