Plant Details

Betula pendula

Birches

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Common names

62 names · 41 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Birches
  • European weeping birch[1]
  • European white birch[1]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • silver birch[1]
  • weeping birch[1]
Other languages (40)
Dutch
  • Ruwe Berk[1]
  • Scherpe berk
French
  • Bouleau
  • bouleau verruqueux[1]
Afrikaans
  • Silverberk[1]
Arabic
  • قضبان فضي[1]
Armenian
  • Կեչի ելունդավոր[1]
Asturian
Belarusian
  • Бяроза павіслая[1]
Bulgarian
  • Бяла бреза[1]
Catalan
  • bedoll comú[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 垂枝桦[1]
  • 欧洲白桦[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 垂枝樺[1]
  • 歐洲白樺[1]
Croatian
  • Obična breza[1]
Czech
  • bříza bělokorá[1]
Danish
Estonian
Finnish
  • rauduskoivu[1]
German
  • Gemeine Birke[1]
  • Hänge-Birke[1]
  • Hängebirke[1]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
Hebrew
  • שדר משולשל[1]
Hungarian
  • bibircses nyír[1]
  • Közönséges nyír[1]
Italian
Japanese
  • オウシュウシラカンバ[1]
Kashubian
  • Bardówkòwatô brzózka[1]
Kazakh
  • Сүйелді қайың[1]
  • Қотыр қайың[1]
Korean
  • 자작나무[1]
Latvian
  • Āra bērzs[1]
Lithuanian
  • Karpotasis beržas[1]
Norwegian
  • hengebjørk[1]
Polish
  • brzoza brodawkowata[1]
Portuguese
  • vidoeiro-branco[1]
Romanian
  • Mesteacăn argintiu[1]
Russian
  • Берёза бородавчатая[1]
  • Берёза повислая[1]
Samogitian
  • beržos svīrolīs[1]
Scots
Slovak
  • breza previsnutá[1]
Slovenian
  • Navadna breza[1]
Spanish
  • abedul común[1]
Swedish
  • masurbjörk[1]
  • slöjdbjörk[1]
  • Vårtbjörk[1]
Turkish
Udmurt
  • Ошиськись кызьпу[1]
Ukrainian
  • Береза повисла[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Betula pendula — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • silver birch — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • weeping birch — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • bouleau verruqueux — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • bedoll comú — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • European weeping birch — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • brzoza brodawkowata — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • vidoeiro-branco — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Ошиськись кызьпу — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Bardówkòwatô brzózka — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • قضبان فضي — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • abeduriu común — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • beržos svīrolīs — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • hengebjørk — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • birk — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Közönséges nyír — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Vårtbjörk — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • bříza bělokorá — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • 垂枝樺 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • European white birch — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Берёза повислая — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Береза повисла — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Vortebirk — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Vorte-birk — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Ruwe berk — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • abedul común — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Қотыр қайың — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Сүйелді қайың — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Bedul — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Betulla — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • arukask — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • rauduskoivu — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Karpotasis beržas — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • オウシュウシラカンバ — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Mesteacăn argintiu — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • 자작나무 — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Կեչի ելունդավոր — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • 垂枝桦 — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Бяла бреза — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Бяроза павіслая — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Silverberk — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Navadna breza — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Āra bērzs — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • 欧洲白桦 — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Obična breza — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • bibircses nyír — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Берёза бородавчатая — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • 歐洲白樺 — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Huş — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • masurbjörk — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • slöjdbjörk — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Hänge-Birke — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • שדר משולשל — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Gemeine Birke — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Sandbirke — results[0].names[54]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • breza previsnutá — results[0].names[55]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Weißbirke — results[0].names[56]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Warzenbirke — results[0].names[57]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Sand-Birke — results[0].names[58]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Hängebirke — results[0].names[59]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.

General information

Scientific name: Betula pendula
Accepted name (Kew): Betula pendula Roth View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Betulaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Betula (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Birches
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 9.14–15.24 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 3.05–9.14 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Oval, Pyramidal, Rounded, Weeping

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Flowers, Inner bark, Leaves, Sap, Tea
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Adhesive, Charcoal, Dye, Essential oil, Fibre, Cosmetic use, Paper, Pioneer species, Repellent, Wood, Fragrant, Bee forage

Description

The inner bark of the birch can be cooked or dried and then ground into flour. It can serve as a thickening agent for soups and can be mixed with regular flour for baking bread and cookies. Usually, the bark is only used when other starch sources are not available. The sap of the wild birch, harvested before the leaves unfold in early spring by tapping the trunk, has a sweet taste. It can be drunk fresh or boiled down to syrup by allowing the water to evaporate. The sap can also be fermented into beer. An old English recipe suggests mixing each liter of birch sap with a quarter jar of honey and then boiling it with cloves and lime peels. After cooling, add 3 to 4 tablespoons of beer. The young leaves of the birch can be eaten raw or cooked. Tea can be made from both the leaves and the essential oils from the birch bark.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Crown

Crown shape: Narrow pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 962990; name ID 21065; Betula L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 963462; name ID 21582; Betula pendula Roth.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Betula pendula

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 4999613, ID LPCQ: Betula pendula Roth (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Betula pendula — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .