Pollinator plant

Birches

Betula pendula

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

65 names · 41 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Birches
  • Common Birch[3]
  • European Birch[3]
+5 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (40)
Dutch
  • Ruwe Berk[1][2]
  • Scherpe berk
French
  • Bouleau
  • bouleau verruqueux[1][2]
Afrikaans
  • Silverberk[2]
Arabic
  • قضبان فضي[2]
Armenian
  • Կեչի ելունդավոր[2]
Asturian
Belarusian
  • Бяроза павіслая[2]
Bulgarian
  • Бяла бреза[2]
Catalan
  • bedoll comú[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 垂枝桦[2]
  • 欧洲白桦[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 垂枝樺[2]
  • 歐洲白樺[2]
Croatian
  • Obična breza[2]
Czech
  • bříza bělokorá[2]
Danish
Estonian
Finnish
  • rauduskoivu[2]
German
+4 more namesShow fewer names
Hebrew
  • שדר משולשל[2]
Hungarian
  • bibircses nyír[2]
  • Közönséges nyír[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • オウシュウシラカンバ[2]
Kashubian
  • Bardówkòwatô brzózka[2]
Kazakh
  • Сүйелді қайың[2]
  • Қотыр қайың[2]
Korean
  • 자작나무[2]
Latvian
  • Āra bērzs[2]
Lithuanian
  • Karpotasis beržas[2]
Norwegian
  • hengebjørk[2]
Polish
  • brzoza brodawkowata[2]
Portuguese
Romanian
  • Mesteacăn argintiu[2]
Russian
  • Берёза бородавчатая[2]
  • Берёза повислая[2]
Samogitian
  • beržos svīrolīs[2]
Scots
Slovak
  • breza previsnutá[2]
Slovenian
  • Navadna breza[2]
Spanish
Swedish
  • masurbjörk[2]
  • slöjdbjörk[2]
  • Vårtbjörk[2]
Turkish
Udmurt
  • Ошиськись кызьпу[2]
Ukrainian
  • Береза повисла[2]
Sources & name notes (3)

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

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. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Ruwe berk — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • silver birch — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Gemeine Birke — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Hänge-Birke — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Hängebirke — results[0].names[59]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Sand-Birke — results[0].names[58]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Sandbirke — results[0].names[54]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Warzenbirke — results[0].names[57]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Weißbirke — results[0].names[56]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • European weeping birch — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • European white birch — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • weeping birch — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • abedul común — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • bouleau verruqueux — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Betulla — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • vidoeiro-branco — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
[2] Betula pendula — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Ruwe berk — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • silver birch — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Gemeine Birke — results[0].names[53]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Hänge-Birke — results[0].names[51]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Hängebirke — results[0].names[59]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Sand-Birke — results[0].names[58]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Sandbirke — results[0].names[54]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Warzenbirke — results[0].names[57]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Weißbirke — results[0].names[56]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • European weeping birch — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • European white birch — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • weeping birch — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • abedul común — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • bouleau verruqueux — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • Betulla — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • vidoeiro-branco — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • bedoll comú — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • brzoza brodawkowata — results[0].names[6]; 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • שדר משולשל — results[0].names[52]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
  • breza previsnutá — results[0].names[55]; taxon id 83992; Betula pendula.
[3] Betula pendula — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Silver Birch — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Betula pendula.
  • Common Birch — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Betula pendula.
  • European Birch — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Betula pendula.
  • European Weeping Birch — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Betula pendula.
  • European White Birch — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Betula pendula.
  • Warty Birch — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Betula pendula.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Betula pendula is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Betulaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
9.14–15.24 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
3.05–9.14 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Oval; Pyramidal; Rounded; Weeping

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Europe and Asia

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Unknown
Pollen value Low
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Tree
Size
Large
Dimensions
20.00 m high × 10.00 m wide
Growth rate
Slow
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
2-6
Moisture
Well-drained, Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Flowers, Inner bark, Leaves, Sap, Tea
Functions
Adhesive, Charcoal, Dye, Essential oil, Fibre, Cosmetic, Paper, Pioneer plant, Repellent, Timber, Fragrant, Pollinator plant
Edibility
3 out of 5
Medicinal value
3 out of 5

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.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Betula pendula — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 4999613; ID LPCQ; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 4999613; ID LPCQ; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Betula pendula — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .