Silver Birch Trees Facts and Information
- Latin name: Betula pendula
- Native words: Old Irish () Scots Gaelic (beithe) Old English (birce) Welsh (bedwen) eastern Celtic ()
- Ogham sign: B
- Height when mature: 33m 105 ft
- Height after 10 years: 5-6m 16-20ft
How big does a dwarf silver birch tree get?
‘ Filigree Lace’ - This dwarf form of the silver birch has an intricate cut leafed pattern. It grows to 7 ft. tall and 3 ft. wide ‘Laciniata’ - Has a very serrated cut leaf pattern. Grows 25-30 ft. tall and 15-30 wide ‘Purpurea’ - The new foliage is reddish-purple.
How tall do birch trees grow in the US?
By age 20, they have an average height of about 46 feet. By maturity, these trees reach a height of about 60 feet tall on average, although much taller specimens have been discovered. Birch trees grow best in full sun with consistently moist, but well-draining soil.
Is a silver birch tree a good garden tree?
They mainly produce light, open canopies, which doesn’t cast dense shade, making them good tree choices for small gardens. Silver birches prefer an open, sunny site. They are not too fussy about soil types, as they grow well in just about all soils, and will even tolerate occasional waterlogging.
How deep do you plant silver birches?
Planting silver birches. Plant bare-root trees between November and March, and container-grown ones any time of year, but preferably in autumn, winter or spring. Dig a hole 60x60cm (2x2ft) and 30cm (12in) deep.
How fast does a silver birch grow?
6ft per yearThey are easy to grow and if properly looked after they will grow quickly for the first few years, with a growth of up to 6ft per year. Silver Birch is very attractive in all seasons with soft green lacy foliage creating dappled shade in the summer.
How close to a house can you plant a silver birch tree?
Silver birches are among the best trees for small gardens since they never produce too dense a canopy and their root systems are unlikely to shift foundations. That said, always make sure they are planted at least 10 feet from the house.
Where do silver birch trees grow best?
Silver birches prefer an open, sunny site. They are not too fussy about soil types, as they grow well in just about all soils, and will even tolerate occasional waterlogging.
What is the lifespan of a silver birch tree?
between 60 and 90 years oldSilver birch is the faster growing of the two, and also the taller, reaching a height of up to 30 metres, whereas downy birch seldom exceeds 21 metres. As pioneer species, they are short-lived, with typical lifespans being between 60 and 90 years old, although some individuals can live up to 150 years.
Are silver birch trees a problem?
Problems with large silver birch tree. The tree has become very big in recent years due to lack of pruning. The tree is taller than the houses. It's causing problems with cutting out light, excessive leaf shedding and seeds and sap which damage the pavement and our property.
Are silver birch roots invasive?
The silver birch is a shallow-rooted tree with root systems that have been known to spread up to 10 metres. Although silver birch roots are not considered to be aggressive, they have been known to cause significant damage to lawns, patios, and other structures.
Can you keep silver birch trees small?
Maintaining the Size of a Silver Birch General pruning practice for young silver birch is to cut only the live branches less than 1 inch in diameter.
What is the prettiest birch tree?
6 Birch Trees with Gorgeous Fall Foliage01 of 06. River Birch Tree. The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova. ... 02 of 06. Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) ... 03 of 06. Gray Birch (Betula populifolia) ... 04 of 06. Young's Weeping Birch (Betula pendula Youngii) ... 05 of 06. Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) ... 06 of 06. Sweet Birch (Betula lenta)
Can I plant a silver birch in a small garden?
Silver birch are often good choices for small gardens. They are famed for their stunning bark which looks great throughout winter. Silver birch trees can have a single trunk or be multi-stemmed. Try the weeping Betula pendula 'Youngii' which has arching stems of ovate leaves that fade to yellow in autumn.
Should you prune silver birch trees?
It is vital that you do not over prune your silver birch tree. Always approach the task with a less-is-more attitude. Over-pruning can lead to rot pockets which weaken the tree. Also, before you start your pruning, give your tree a close look over.
Do birch trees fall over easily?
But if you really wanted a taller, conventional tree for shade there, you're probably best off removing it and starting over. Birch are fairly breakage-prone in storms, by the way.
How deep do birch tree roots go?
Birch tree roots spread as far as the tree grows wide and create an intensive mat of roots 4-8 inches thick below the soil surface and spread 20-40 feet as they mature, leading to issues with underground structures. In general, a birch tree's root system doubles in size during its first year alone.
Do birch trees damage foundations?
Here is exactly what you need to know about River Birch trees to put your mind at ease about the potential for property damage: So long as River Birches have ample amounts of water, they should never pose a problem to your underground plumbing or property's foundation.
How far do birch tree roots spread?
Roots of River Birch spread into a 4- to the 8-inch thick mat-like structure primarily near the soil surface in order to absorb the rainwater from the soil. In order to cope up with the height of the tree, the roots of River Birch thrive faster and spread quickly.
What trees can be planted close to a house?
These include willow trees, poplars, cottonwoods, aspens, silver maples, Norway maples, and American elm trees, among others. Smaller trees with shallow roots, however, pose little risk to your home. Japanese maple trees, for instance, are safe to plant relatively close to your house.
Can you keep silver birch trees small?
Maintaining the Size of a Silver Birch General pruning practice for young silver birch is to cut only the live branches less than 1 inch in diameter.
What is a silver birch tree?
Silver Birch Botanical Description: Silver Birch Trees are fast growing, attractive trees. Their trunks are pale in colour with black notches that create deep, diamond shaped fissures along the white bark. Birch is a pioneer species, which is usually one of the first to colonise a site.
What are the best birch trees?
Silver Birch Tree Good / Bad Points: 1 Grows very quickly and easily. 2 It does not have a dense crown and allows light through. 3 Its bark and golden autumn leaves are very attractive. 4 It is also tolerant of heavy and damp soil, (but prefers well-drained) and is very hardy. 5 Suitable for all sizes of gardens and for sites where mature woodland is required quickly. 6 The seed is very fertile and a mature Birch can produce hundreds of viable tiny seeds which germinate across the garden.
What is the meaning of birch bark?
In Siberia, tribal peoples, such as the Khanty still use birch bark to make containers for food, and peel off strips of the under bark to use as tinder for fires; the tree is not harmed.
What is the relationship between birch and fungus?
Birches have a symbiotic relationship with fungi and often develop large bracket fungi on their trunk, called Polypores. Birch also has a close relationship with Scots Pine, growing alongside them in Caledonian forests. With Scots Pine, Birch is our oldest British native tree; after the Ice Age, they were the first to spread over the countryside.
How many seeds can a birch produce?
The seed is very fertile and a mature Birch can produce hundreds of viable tiny seeds which germinate across the garden.
What is the best tree for woodpeckers?
A favourite nesting tree for the uncommon Lesser Spotted woodpecker, Silver Birch is used by hundreds of species insects, especially when the tree is dead but remains standing, which often occurs with Birch.
How long do sage trees live?
It's one of the shortest-lived native trees only living between 40-60 years and when young the bark appears redder, slowly changing white as the tree matures.
