Plant Details

Betula pubescens

White Birch, Downy birch

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Common names

41 names · 27 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Downy birch[1]
  • European paper birch[1]
  • hairy birch[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • White Birch
Other languages (26)
Dutch
  • Zachte Berk[1]
French
  • Bouleau blanc[1]
  • Bouleau pubescent[1]
Asturian
Belarusian
  • Бяроза пушыстая[1]
Catalan
  • Bedoll pubescent[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • bříza pýřitá[1]
Danish
Estonian
Finnish
German
  • Behaarte Birke[1]
  • Besen-Birke[1]
  • Bruchbirke[1]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
Hungarian
  • molyhos nyír[1]
Italian
  • Betulla pelosa[1]
  • Betulla pubescente[1]
Latvian
  • Purva bērzs[1]
Lithuanian
  • Plaukuotasis beržas[1]
Norwegian
Ojibwe
Polish
  • Brzoza omszona[1]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Берёза пушистая[1]
Slovak
  • breza plstnatá[1]
Spanish
Swedish
  • glasbjörk[1]
Turkish
  • Tüylü Huş[1]
Ukrainian
  • Береза пухнаста[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 pubescens — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Moor-Birke — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Downy Birch — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Vidoeiro — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Bidoeiro — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Bétula — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • hieskoivu — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Bedoll pubescent — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Bouleau pubescent — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Bouleau blanc — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Haar-Birke — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Besen-Birke — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Glasbirke — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Behaarte Birke — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • bříza pýřitá — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Dun-birk — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Zachte berk — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Берёза пушистая — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • bjørk — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • sookask — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Plaukuotasis beržas — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • bedul — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Brzoza omszona — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • glasbjörk — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Wiigwaas — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • 柔毛桦 — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Betulla pelosa — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Betulla pubescente — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • 毛樺 — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • 毛桦 — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Береза пухнаста — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Бяроза пушыстая — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • European paper birch — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • hairy birch — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • molyhos nyír — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Purva bērzs — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Tüylü Huş — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Abedul — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • breza plstnatá — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Ruchbirke — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.
  • Bruchbirke — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 119061; Betula pubescens.

General information

Scientific name: Betula pubescens
Accepted name (Kew): Betula pubescens Ehrh. 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: White Birch, Downy birch
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 20.00 m
Spread: 10.00 m
Growth rate: Slow
Foliage: Deciduous

Leaf retention described in the New England flora.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2-9
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

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 boiled, dried, and ground into flour. It is used as a thickening agent in soups and can be mixed with regular flour to make bread and cookies. Generally, the inner bark is only used when no other sources of starch are available. The sap of the raw birch has a sweet taste and is collected before the leaves bud in early spring. The sap can be consumed raw or boiled down into syrup by evaporating the water. It can also be fermented into birch beer according to an old English recipe. The young leaves of the birch can be eaten raw or cooked, and tea can be made from them, including tea with essential oils from the bark.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

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 963636; name ID 21636; Betula pubescens Ehrh..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    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 4999635, ID LPDF: Betula pubescens Ehrh. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. Native Plant Trust; Go Botany Betula pubescens — Go Botany
    Supports: Foliage
    Relevant sections
    • Foliage: Leaf duration

    Source checked on .