Weeping Birch (European White Birch)
Betula pendula (BETULACEAE)
Planting and Growing Weeping Birch
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow weeping birch (European white birch) trees in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Foliage, catkins, cones, and seeds of weeping birch (European white birch) trees
- Growing conditions for weeping birch (European white birch)
- When to plant weeping birch (European white birch)
- How to plant weeping birch (European white birch)
- How to prune weeping birch (European white birch)
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of weeping birch (European white birch)
- Landscape uses of weeping birch (European white birch)
- Pest and disease control for weeping birch (European white birch)
Growing Weeping Birch Trees
Several cultivars of graceful, fast-growing, pyramid-shaped, open, deciduous trees, to 60 ft. (18 m) tall, with green, oval or diamond-shaped, toothed, veined leaves, to 2-1/2 in. (63 mm) long, turning gold in autumn, and with white, flaking bark.
Common cultivars include Betula pendula ‘Dalecarlica’, with nodding or weeping branches; ‘Fastigata’, with upright, columnar form; ‘Purpurea’, with purple becoming bronze green leaves; ‘Whitespire’, a borer-resistant variety; and ‘Youngii’, Young’s weeping birch, a graceful, pendulous tree.
Single and multitrunked cultivars available.
Weeping Birch Planting and Care Guide
Catkins, Cones, and Seeds
Willowlike male and female catkins, to 2 in. (50 mm) long, in winter, with brown cones to 1 in. (25 mm) long, on female trees, in autumn.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 3–7.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained humus. Fertility: Rich–average. 5.5–6.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full to filtered sun. Space container-grown and boxed trees 12–15 ft. (3.7–4.5 m) apart.
To plant from seed, collect mature seed formed from spring catkins in early autumn. Strip and scatter seed onto a sifted planting medium of half damp sand and half organic silt in bedding trays, then cover with 1/8-in (1–2-mm) of planting medium. Press medium into contact with seed and water. Seed will sprout in mid-spring. Thin seedlings to 2-ft (60-cm) spacing. Transplant in third season into growing containers.
Birch grow about 1–1-1/2-ft. (30–45 cm) per year beginning with their second season after germination.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist. Prune in late spring. Propagate by cuttings, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, borders, containers, paths, planters, screens in cottage, natural, small-space, woodland gardens and water feature shorelines. Good for coppicing. Seed attracts birds in winter. Tolerates occasional drought. Shallow rooted. Aphid, birch leaf miner susceptible.
Common Species and Varieties of Birch
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- Betula albo-sinensis, Chinese paper birch
- Betula alleghaniensis, yellow birch
- Betula davurica, Dahurian birch
- Betula jacquemontii, Indian birch
- Betula lenta, sweet birch
- Betula maximowicziana, monarch birch
- Betula nana, dwarf arctic birch
- Betula nigra, river birch
- Betula occidentalis, water birch
- Betula papyrifera, canoe birch
- Betula pendula, weeping birch
- Betula platyphylla japonica, Japanese birch
- Betula platyphylla szechuanica, Chinese birch
- Betula populifolia, gray birch
About Birch Trees
The Betula genus includes nearly 60 species of graceful, open, broad-leaved, deciduous trees, many with narrow, erect habits and often thin, nodding or weeping branches.
All birch species are native to the northern hemisphere’s temperate zones and are found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. All are hardy and grow best in cold-winter climates.
Birches are prized for their dainty foliage and showy bark. Their leaves emerge bronze, light green, or maroon, become deep green above and silver gray beneath, and turn golden yellow in autumn.
Marked and patterned, birch bark is attractively colored in hues from reddish brown to icy silver. Cultivars have been developed with dramatic foliage colors.
Birch are fast-growing, short-lived trees that reach 25–90 ft. (7.5–27 m) tall. A species or cultivar exists for nearly every garden need throughout their climate range.
They are susceptible to birch leaf miner, a pest that causes leaves to turn yellow and prematurely drop, as well as aphid, borers, sawfly, and gypsy moth. Nectaria canker can infect their bark.
Choose from among the popularly cultivated species above.
Planting and Caring for Birch Trees
Birch trees are popular in landscape gardens as ornamental trees that rapidly fill small-space areas, create island plantings in a natural grass planting or manicured lawn, or provide a seasonal screen.
They are broad-leaved, deciduous, and appear constantly in motion due to their long-stemmed leaves which wave and quiver in any breeze.
Birches grow in a variety of forms, from those with single, narrow trunks to multitrunked, nearly vining species that retain a shrublike character. They are good trees for coppicing in natural landscapes along streams.
Plant birch trees in moderately rich, moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. Since all landscape trees grow best when planted in unamended soil, test the acid-alkaline balance of your site before you plant. Birches should have soils in the 6.0–7.0 pH range. Choose from those species that fit your climate and site.
When planting a birch, carefully match the depth of the hole to the soil line on the rootball of your tree, taking care to avoid too-deep planting. Backfill around the rootball with native soil and keep the tree well watered until it becomes established and begins to spurt new growth.
Birches are a good choice for seasonal shade and bright autumn foliage color in cold-winter climates, though many species perform well in a variety of conditions.
Their care needs include regular raking of fallen catkinlike flowers in spring and leaves in autumn. Birds find their seed attractive during winter.
Small birches are good container trees suited to use on balconies, decks, and patios. Keep birches grown in planters or large containers evenly moist, fertilize them regularly to replace leached nutrients, and protect their roots from sun exposure.