Downy birch
Betula pubescens
Downy birch is a slender tree with a light canopy and elegant, drooping branches. Its diamond-shaped leaves turn golden in autumn. You can tell this species apart from silver birch in spring by its furry new shoots. Can be grown as a specimen or screening tree.
Downy birch estimated full grown height:
30 metres, growing an estimated 40-60cm each year.
Purchase size and growth:
These trees are cell-grown saplings, ranging from approximately 15cm-60cm in height. Cell grown trees can be planted all year round in most situations as long as they are given the correct care. Please be aware that depending upon the time of year you receive your sapling (particularly early spring) it may not look very perky upon arrival, please do not worry once it has been planted it should pick up quickly.
Value to wildlife:
Downy birch provides food for aphids which attracts species higher up the food chain. It’s also a food plant for the caterpillars of many moths, including the angle-shades, buff tip, pebble hook-tip, and Kentish glory. The seeds are eaten by birds such as siskins, greenfinches and redpolls.
Downy birch preferred soil type or environmental conditions:
It grows in most soils apart from chalk. Especially likes damp sites.
UK and Ireland Sourced and Grown (UKISG):
Every sapling that we provide is UK and Ireland sourced and grown to minimise the risk of importing and spreading tree pests and diseases. Seeds are collected and stored in the UK and Ireland, and they are all coded and batched so that we can track each individual tree.
Learn more about this species on our downy birch profile.
The images in this product listing show the saplings bundled and wrapped. This plastic wrap is made from LDPE (low-density polyethylene) and is 100% recyclable, we encourage users to recycle them when you are ready to plant your trees.
