Betula Species, European White Birch, Irish Beith, Silver Weeping Birch, Warty Birch

Betulapendula

Family
Betulaceae (beh-tyoo-LAY-see-ee)
Genus
Betula (BET-yoo-luh)
Species
pendula (PEND-yoo-luh)
Synonym
Betula alba var. pendula
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
20-30 ft. (6-9 m)
30-40 ft. (9-12 m)
over 40 ft. (12 m)
Spacing
30-40 ft. (9-12 m)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
Pale Yellow
Brown/Bronze
Inconspicuous/none
Bloom Time
Late Winter/Early Spring
Mid Spring
Other Details
Category
Trees
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From softwood cuttings
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
By grafting
Seed Collecting
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Lincoln, (258 reports)

Flagstaff, Arizona

Carlsbad, California

Fremont, California

Moreno Valley, California

Pinon Hills, California

Riverside, California

Topanga, California

Pensacola, Florida

Batavia, Illinois

Dekalb, Illinois

Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

Souderton, Pennsylvania

Wayne, Pennsylvania

Orem, Utah

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Gardener's Notes:

5
positives
3
neutrals
2
negatives
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R
Downingtown, PA | December 2013 | negative

The European White Birch is a very pretty tree that has smaller leaves and finer texture than other birch, and it has a slightly weeping ...Read More

D
D
(Zone 7b) | July 2012 | positive

Thin white barked tree very common in Europe and Russia, grows in many soil types from acidic to alkaline. One of the hardiest hardwood t...Read More

C
C
Riverside, CA | February 2012 | positive

Grows great in Southern California. Granitic soil, clay soil, any soil. Doesn't seem to matter. Gives some seasonality to us. The hum...Read More

S
Souderton, PA (Zone 6b) | September 2010 | neutral

This is a beautiful tree and reminds me of all the white birches I saw when I was little in northern New Hampshire. I tried growing this...Read More

J
Pinon Hills, CA (Zone 8a) | May 2010 | positive

This tree is absolutely beautiful. The tree however, when it's hot will wilt a bit so keep the soil moist. Up here in the high desert, it...Read More

P
(Zone 8a) | November 2009 | positive

A very common tree here. It grows on hot sites and on cold sites, on dry sites and on wet sites, at altitude and at sea level. Very versa...Read More

S
Oceanside, NY | June 2007 | negative

I live in Long Island,New York.The tree did great for the first year and then was infected with bronze birch borer.
Unfortunate as...Read More

A
| May 2004 | positive

This is a lovely, graceful tree. It grows well in our Zone 10 city gardens (not American so not subject to the pest mentioned in the prev...Read More

W
W
| November 2002 | neutral

Unfortunately, this species as well as white-barked birches in general, usually do not thrive in zone 7 and warmer. They are often kille...Read More

B
B
Baa
| November 2002 | neutral

A slim tree native to Europe, Russia and Western Asia.

Has ovate to diamond shaped, pale to mid-green, toothed leaves that...Read More

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