Common Birch or Silver Birch Betula pendula Common birch or Silver Birch (Betula pendula) is a popular native tree with silver bark and graceful weeping branches. The silver bark develops contrasting dark fissures and cracks with age and is a favourite with wildlife. The bright green almost triangular leaves with a serrated edge appear early in spring and produce a nice light dappled shade through the summer. In the autumn they turn buttery yellow. Brown catkins develop over winter, with the seeds of which are enjoyed by a number of small birds. Our native Birch will grow in even the toughest conditions and thrives in full sun to partial shade and will tolerate moist soils. The tree has a conical shape and will grow to around 7 metres height and 4 metres spread in 20 years.
