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Silver birch

BIRCHES 

Betula pendula

 Betula pubescens

Silver Birch

Silver birch
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 Betula pendula is Silver Birch, Betula pubesens is Downy Birch.

Silver Birch is the larger of the two trees reaching up to 30m.  Its silver bark and graceful pendulous branches make it easy to identify. Its alternating leaves are 2/7cm long, double toothed and triangular, turning yellow in autumn. Male and female catkins grow on the same tree. Male seeds grow on the tips of twigs turning yellow with pollen. Female catkins grow at  the leaf base during April and May. This tree prefers light well drained soil. Its wood is used for broom handles and the twigs for besom brooms

Downy Birch leaves are similar to Silver Birch but more rounded with course even teeth. This tree has a smaller bushier habit than its relation, and  prefers wetter soil. The wood is soft and is used for furniture,and tool handles.                                                                      

Both trees will colonize waste ground but are short lived. They can be killed off  by taller trees as they cannot tolerate shade. They make an excellent nurse crop for slower growing trees. You will be more inclined to find hybrids of the two than true species

 
Collect seeds from the tree from August onwards while strobiles are in tact.  Sow seeds in early spring, no pre-treatment is required. Seedlings are prone to dampening off and they do not like transplanting.

                   Birch seeds                           Downy Birch

Downy birch
Betula pubescens
To Druids Silver birch was a holy tree, It was thought to have the power of renewal and purification.                                                                                       

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