Downy birch

Downy, or white birch is similar to the silver birch with light airy foliage. It is the dominant birch in Scotland and north west England.

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	White birch Brown birch Beith (Gaelic and Old Irish) Begh (Irish)
Generic name	Birch
Latin name	Betula pubescens
Family name	Birch
Latin family name	Betulaceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	Yes, it is deciduous

Species description:

Average height	15-20m

Leaf

Description	Single toothed leaves on downy stalks
Shape	Heart/Triangular
Colour	Green
Colour of leaves in autumn	Golden-yellow
Leaf bud	Big, long, sharp buds on slender shoots
Leaf stalk	Long stalk
Leaf arrangement	Alternate
Leaf burst usually occurs	Spring

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Catkin
Flower size	Male catkins up to 6cm long
Flowering season	April-May
Tree/flower sex	Both sexes
Fruit colour	Brown
Fruit season	September-December
Type of seed body	Catkin
Seeds dispersed by	Wind

Bark and twig

Bark description	White bark with some black markings. The bark on branches can be copper coloured
Twig Description	Very finely hairy and smooth to the touch

What other trees are similar?

Can easily be confused with?	Silver birch - this has hairless shoots and stalks, more triangular leaves and the bark has more black markings

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Native
Where is its natural range?	Britain and Ireland
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Abundant on poor and wet soils, especially so in the uplands.
What is its British conservation status?	Common

Additional information

Human uses of tree and timber

Birch has a number of human uses. The timber has traditionally been used in Scotland in houses, furniture, carts, ploughs, gates and fences. While other parts of the UK used to shun the use of birch except for its traditional use of broomsticks. Today, Birch timber has a variety of uses and large amounts of birch brushwood are used annually for racecourse jumps. Other parts of the tree were also useful. The bark was used for tanning leather and the sap was thought to have medicinal benefits for kidney stones and other ailments. The sap was also useful as it is a good source of sugar and can be brewed into beer or wine. Silver birch wine is still commercially made in Scotland.

Tree lore and folklore

Birch, the tree of Venus, has a number of properties associated with it. Birch is believed to protect against evil spirits and the evil eye but it also symbolises love and fertility. In medieval times, a bundle of birch twigs was carried by the local magistrate on his way to court as a symbol of his authority and as a means of correction. The use of the birch as a punishment probably originates in the need to drive out evil spirits.

Downy birch tree

Downy birch leaf

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees