Betula platyphylla Sukaczev, treated here as a synonym of Betula pendula, is treated as a distinct species in the Flora of China[]. However, we are following the treatment in the Kew on-line database World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, which treats it as a synonym of Betula pendula[].
Species of the genus Betula are a difficult group taxonomically because of their high vegetative variability and frequent hybridization. Many species have been founded on only slight differences and many of these have subsequently been reduced to synonymy. Many morphologic and cytologic studies have attempted to deal with variation within the genus or its subgroups. Species of Betula form a polyploid series, with chromosome numbers of 2 n = 28, , , , and 112, plus additional numbers in some hybrids.

Common Name: Silver Birch

General Information

Betula pendula is a deciduous tree with an open, spreading crown; it can grow up to 30 metres tall. The tree often has more than one main trunk[, ].
Betula pendula has a very wide range of traditional uses and is often harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is among the most commercially important tree species in northern Europe, where it is cultivated as a timber tree[]. The tree is also often grown as an ornamental, there are many named varieties[].
Betula pendula has a widespread distribution, stable populations and no major threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Temperate Eurasia - Norway to Spain, east to Russian Far East, Japan, Korea, Iran and Iraq; N. America - Alaska to British Colombia, east to Ontario.

Habitat

Open woodland and heaths[, ]. Rarely found on chalk[]. Temperate broad-leaved forests, shaded, south-facing slopes, ridges, dry, sunny slopes, marshes, often forming vast, pure stands; at elevations from 700 - 4,200 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A very easily grown plant, it tolerates most soils including poor ones[, ], sandy soils[] and heavy clays. It prefers a well-drained loamy soil in a sunny position[, ]. It is occasionally found on calcareous soils in the wild but it generally prefers a pH below 6.5, doing well on acid soils[]. Fairly wind tolerant[] though it becomes wind shaped when exposed to strong winds[].
Silver birch is a fast growing tree, increasing by up to 1 metre a year in height, though it is short-lived[, ]. It is often one of the first trees to colonize open land and it creates a suitable environment for other woodland trees to follow[]. These trees eventually out-compete and shade out the birch trees[, ]. It makes an excellent nurse tree for seedling trees, though its fine branches can cause damage to nearby trees when blown into them by the wind.
Trees take about 15 years from seed to produce their own seed[].
Although closely related, it does not usually hybridize with Betula pubescens[]. It often hybridizes with Betula pubescens according to another report[].
A superb tree for encouraging wildlife, it has 229 associated insect species[].
A good plant to grow near the compost heap, aiding the fermentation process[, ]. It is also a good companion plant, its root action working to improve the soil[].
Species in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].
This species is the national tree of Finland[].

Edible Uses

Inner bark - cooked or dried and ground into a meal[, , ]. It can be added as a thickener to soups etc or can be mixed with flour for making bread, biscuits etc. Inner bark is generally only seen as a famine food, used when other forms of starch are not available or are in short supply[, , ].

Sap - raw or cooked. A sweet flavour. It is harvested in early spring, before the leaves unfurl, by tapping the trunk. It makes a pleasant drink[]. It is often concentrated into a syrup by boiling off the water[, , , , ]. Between 4 and 7 litres can be drawn off a mature tree in a day and this will not kill the tree so long as the tap hole is filled up afterwards[]. However, prolonged or heavy tapping will kill the tree[]. The flow is best on sunny days following a frost. The sap can be fermented into a beer. An old English recipe for the beer is as follows:-
'To every Gallon of Birch-water put a quart of Honey, well stirr'd together; then boil it almost an hour with a few Cloves, and a little Limon-peel, keeping it well scumm'd. When it is sufficiently boil'd, and become cold, add to it three or four Spoonfuls of good Ale to make it work...and when the Test begins to settle, bottle it up . . . it is gentle, and very harmless in operation within the body, and exceedingly sharpens the Appetite, being drunk ante pastum.'[].

Young leaves - raw or cooked[].

Young catkins[]. No more details are given.

A tea is made from the leaves[, ] and another tea is made from the essential oil in the inner bark[].

Medicinal

The plant is cholagogue, diaphoretic[, , ].

The bark is antifungal, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, laxative and tonic[, ].
The inner bark is bitter and astringent, it is used in treating intermittent fevers[].
An oil obtained from the inner bark is astringent and is used in the treatment of various skin afflictions, especially eczema and psoriasis[, ].
The bark is usually obtained from trees that have been felled for timber and can be distilled at any time of the year[].

The vernal sap is diuretic[].

The buds are balsamic[]. The young shoots and leaves secrete a resinous substance which has acid properties, when combined with alkalis it is a tonic laxative[].

The leaves are anticholesterolemic and diuretic[]. They also contain phytosides, which are effective germicides[]. An infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of gout, dropsy and rheumatism, and is recommended as a reliable solvent of kidney stones[]. The young leaves and leaf buds are harvested in the spring and dried for later use[].

A decoction of the leaves and bark is used for bathing skin eruptions[].

Moxa is made from the yellow fungous excrescences of the wood, which sometimes swell out of the fissures[].
One of the major constituents of the bark, betulinic acid, has shown activity against cancerous cells and HIV[].

The root bark, and other parts of the plant, show anticancer activity[].
The bark contains several medically active constituents including triterpenoids and flavonoids[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A pioneer species, it readily invades old fields, cleared or burnt-over land and creates conditions suitable for other woodland trees to become established. Since it is relatively short-lived and intolerant of shade, it is eventually out-competed by these trees[, ].

Other Uses

The bark is waterproof, durable, tough and resinous. It is used to make a wide range of items including drinking vessels, food baskets, canoe skins, roofing tiles, fancy items, craftwork etc[, ].
Only the outer bark is removed, this does not kill the tree. It is most easily removed in late spring to early summer.
The whole bark is waterproof and is used as an underlay for doormats, roof coverings, balconies and in North America in the construction of wigwams and canoes[].

A tar-oil is obtained from the white bark in spring. It has fungicidal properties and is also used as an insect repellent[, , ]. It makes a good shoe polish, can be used to protect wood and can be made into a car polish[, ].
Another report says that an essential oil is obtained from the bark and this, called 'Russian Leather' has been used as a perfume[].

A decoction of the inner bark is used to preserve cordage[], it contains up to 16% tannin[, ].

An oil similar to Wintergreen oil (obtained from Gaultheria procumbens) is obtained from the inner bark[, ]. It is used medicinally and also makes a refreshing tea[].

The resin glands (the report does not say where these glands are found) are used to make a hair lotion[].

A brown dye is obtained from the inner bark

A glue is made from the sap[, , , ].

Cordage can be made from the fibres of the inner bark[]. This inner bark can also be separated into thin layers and used as a substitute for oiled paper[].

The young branches are very flexible and are used to make whisks, besoms etc[]. They are also used in thatching[, ] and to make wattles[].

The leaves are a good addition to the compost heap, improving fermentation[].

The pale-coloured wood is light in weight, close-grained, fine to coarse textured, soft, durable. It is used for a wide range of purposes including furniture, tool handles, toys, carving and occasionally in construction[, , , , ]. The wood is used in plywood-making and carpentry as well as for pulp-wood[].
The wood contains ethereal oil which makes the wood burn well and produce a rapid heat, making it popular as firewood[].
A high quality charcoal is obtained from the bark. It is used by artists, painters etc[]. The wood is also pulped and used for making paper[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a light position in a cold frame[, , , ]. Only just cover the seed and place the pot in a sunny position[, , ]. Spring sown seed should be surface sown in a sunny position in a cold frame[, ]. If the germination is poor, raising the temperature by covering the seed with glass can help[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
If you have sufficient seed, it can be sown in an outdoor seedbed, either as soon as it is ripe or in the early spring - do not cover the spring sown seed. Grow the plants on in the seedbed for 2 years before planting them out into their permanent positions in the winter[, , , ].