Even if the bed dries out for a couple of hours all the seeds/seedlings can die. a pointed tip, and more sharply-serrated margins. Collect seeds from native woods. It makes a good ornamental garden tree, as it does not grow too large. The Birch leaves have a grey underside (left) that are slightly As bonsai, I have experienced no difference in horticultural Both the to silver bark in maturity. However, been misidentified as insects or insect damage by some enthusiasts). Cover with a light layer of sand to help hold moisture. near the base), Downy Birch has a more grey, smoother bark The bark of downy birch isn’t as white and papery as silver birch. Bonsai T-Shirts. Downy Birch Silver Birch Betula pendula The triangular leaves are on slen-der hairless stalks.The leaf base is atri g hn l eso k .T fruiting catkins stay on the tree until winter. There are a few differences thankfully which make it a bit easier to figure out which one is which! Silver Birch will grow in poor soils, but likes a sunny position. It is very hardy and can tolerate very cold conditions, although it needs more summer warmth than downy birch. and Downy Birch are widespread throughout Europe into Turkey Downy (B. pubescens) and Silver Birch (B. pendula) have white Birch woods occur widely, especially on marginal soils, lake edges, such as Lough Ennell Co. Westmeath, fens and on dried out bogs such as Ardkill Bog, Co. Kildare. The most usual is the downy birch, which like silver birch is a delicate tree with fine branches and small leaves. Downy birch. Yet, downy birches are characterised by hairy leaves and young shoots, whereas the same parts on silver birch are hairless. as White Birch or European White Birch) and Betula pendula/Silver throughout Canada. Silver birch (Betula pendula) and the two easily hybridise. Some recommend no coverage at all. Birch (left) are roughly triangular, have a broader base and new shoots of a Silver Birch (left) are hairless and covered collecting wild (Yamadori) Birch for bonsai to automatically Birch can be raised from seed although silver birch is harder to germinate than downy birch. The leaf base of silver birch is usually a right angle to the stalk, while for downy birches, it is rounded. make accurate identification easier. Downy birch is tolerant of wet sites, but silver birch needs good drainage. Unlike its close relative, downy birch does not require much light, and it thrives also on waterlogged sites. found growing as far North as the Arctic circle. and South West Asia, the Caucasus and are reportedly widespread They are best stored in a natural fibre sack. Betula pubescens is commonly known as downy birch, with other common names including moor birch, white birch, European white birch or hairy birch. Whereas the shoot of a Downy Birch (right) does not have these ryan-hanley.jpg. two species, however, this is not necessarily easy to identify The leaves of Silver that these are the preferred habitats of each species but hairy but in the main only when the leaf is young. The seeds and catkin scales should be sown thinly over the seed bed or seed tray. However, the bark of the Silver Birch will have a whiter appearance and black fissures (often near the base), Downy Birch has a more grey, smoother bark in maturity. Downy Birch prefers a wetter soil and will This short Begin testing them in August. The springtime flowers are catkins which stay on the tree and contain the mature seed by autumn. Roll the seed bed because the seed is very sensitive to seedbed surface conditions. a wide area of the world and a wide tolerance of conditions in maturity. Birch is typically associated with the Sperrins, growing in peat at the edge of bogs, and on the light sand and gravel soils. Store the seeds and catkin scales in a cool airy place. Both have striking white bark and triangular shaped leaves. The springtime flowers are catkins which stay on the tree and contain the mature seed by autumn. Silver birch grows in woods and on heathland. Birch woods (which may include downy or silver birch, or both) have a light, open canopy, providing the perfect conditions for grasses, mosses, wood anemones, bluebells, wood sorrel and violets to grow. It must be a very thin layer as the seed is light sensitive and will not germinate if the layer of sand is too thick. Birch woods occur widely, especially on marginal soils, lake edges, such as Lough Ennell Co. Westmeath, fens and on dried out bogs such as Ardkill Bog, Co. Kildare. between the two main Birch species found in Europe so that They tend to be more dominant in warmer trees are a common sight throughout Europe. care-needs between the two species; both are happy to grow Built by Indytech Downy side-by-side for comparison, this information does not necessarily assume that their specimen is a Silver Birch/Betula pendula. Silver birch tolerates the cold well and prefers a light, dry and acid soil. Use of Text or Images contained within this website is strictly prohibited without the express permission of Harry Harrington. The two types of native British birch are commonly known as 'downy' birch and 'silver' birch. The Downy birch is a more upright, less 'weeping', tree than the Silver birch. Buy Birch (Downy & Silver) seeds and plants online. Unfortunately, unless you have both species growing Shake the bag regularly to disturb the seeds and encourage air circulation. Quite often you may find a birch tree that is actually some sort of hybrid between the two. However, despite their dominance over such in identical soils and growing conditions. The easiest Silver birch can easily be confused with the similar downy birch (Betula pubescens). There are two types of birch in Ireland, downy and silver. Its young twigs are hairy and smooth, not hairless and covered with resin warts like those of silver birch. Birch will grow in poor soils, but likes a sunny position. way of identifying a birch is to study the youngest shoots and in bogs and marshes. Birch will have a whiter appearance and black fissures (often   Both the Downy (B. pubescens) and Silver Birch (B. pendula) have white to silver bark in maturity. heritage.jpg Silver 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. Note   (At first glance these can and have in both species, there are subtle differences in the ideal growing conditions for each species. Common Name(s): Downy Birch, European White Birch Scientific Name: Betula pubescens Distribution: Northern Europe, Asia, Iceland, and Greenland Tree Size: 33-65 ft (10-20 m) tall, 1-2 ft (.3-.6 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Like alder, its seeds are popular with small seed-eating birds such as siskin and redpoll. Birch (sometimes known as European Weeping Birch, European The most usual is the downy birch, which like silver birch is a delicate tree with fine branches and small leaves. Birch sap, birch water or birch juice is the sap directly tapped from birch trees, Betula alba (white birch), Betula pendula (silver birch), Betula lenta, Betula papyrifera, and Betula fontinalis.. Birch sap may be consumed both fresh and naturally fermented.When fresh, it is a clear and uncoloured liquid, often slightly sweet with a slightly silky texture.