Silver birch

Profile

Family

Betulaceae

Habit

Tree

Height

20 m

Spread

12 m

Growth

very fast

Lifespan

110 years

First yield

after 10 years

Hardiness

zone 2–7

Shade tolerance

full sun

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

dry – very moist

pH

5.5 – 7.5

Synonyms

Birke

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Inner bark can be boiled or dried and ground into a meal, used as a thickener in soups, or mixed with flour for making bread and biscuits. It is typically considered a food source during times of scarcity when other starch sources are limited. Birch sap, with a sweet taste, can be consumed raw or cooked. Harvested in early spring by tapping the trunk before the leaves emerge, it can be boiled down into syrup. Tapping mature trees can yield between 4 and 7 liters of sap per day without causing harm, as long as the tap is replenished. However, excessive tapping may lead to the tree's demise. The best sap flow occurs on sunny days following a frost. Additionally, the sap can be fermented to produce beer. Young birch leaves are edible either raw or cooked, and teas can be made from both the leaves and the essential oil found in the inner bark.

Medicinal: Berberine, discovered in the rhizomes of Berberis species, possesses strong antibacterial effects. It is administered orally for treating different intestinal infections, especially bacterial dysentery, due to its low absorption rate in the body. Caution is advised against combining it with Glycyrrhiza species (licorice) to prevent potential reduction in berberine's effectiveness. Additionally, berberine has demonstrated anti-tumor properties.

Other uses: The bark of the birch tree is utilized for creating various items such as drinking vessels, canoe skins, roof tiles, and more due to its waterproof, durable, tough, and resinous qualities. It can be harvested without harming the tree, with the best time for removal being late spring to early summer. Birch trees are pioneer species that easily colonize cleared or burned areas, preparing the ground for the growth of other forest trees. The white bark produces a tarry oil with fungicidal properties in spring, serving as an insect repellent and shoe polish. An essential oil derived from the bark, known as "Russian Leather," was once used as a perfume. The inner bark decoction is employed for preserving cordage and contains up to 16% tannin. The oil extracted from the inner bark, similar to wintergreen oil, has medicinal applications. Resin glands are utilized in making hair lotions. The inner bark also yields a brown dye and can be used for making glue, rope, and as a substitute for oiled paper. Young flexible twigs find use in creating whisks, brooms, thatching, and weaving. Birch leaves are beneficial additions to compost. Birch wood, being soft, lightweight, and durable, is employed in crafting furniture, tool handles, toys, carvings, charcoal, paper, and various other goods.

Growing

The birch tree is a resilient plant that can thrive in various soil types and conditions. It is known for its rapid growth rate of up to one meter annually, although its lifespan is relatively short. This tree is valued for its ornamental beauty, diverse economic uses, and role in facilitating the growth of other woodland species. Birch trees are beneficial for supporting wildlife and have associations with 229 insect species. Additionally, they can enhance composting processes and soil quality when planted near compost heaps due to their root system. Birch trees are, however, vulnerable to honey fungus.

Propagation

Seeds should be sown right after they mature in a well-lit area within a cool environment. Lightly cover the seeds and position the pot in a sunny spot. For seeds sown in spring, place them on the surface in a sunny location within a cool environment. If germination is low, using glass to cover the seeds can help increase the temperature. Once the seedlings are sufficiently grown, transfer them to individual pots and cultivate them in a cool environment for at least the initial winter. Plant them in their final position in late spring or early summer, after the final expected frost. If there are ample seeds, they can be sown in an outdoor seedbed, either right after maturity or in spring—avoid covering seeds sown in spring. Let the plants grow in the seedbed for two years before relocating them to their final position in winter.

Notable

Special features: prefers cleared/burned (acidic-sandy) land> forest structure; removal of the resinous outer bark (late spring - early summer) does not kill the tree; 4 - 7 liters/day/tree tap hole, stop after that; yield best on sunny days after a frost; <4.4% of the dt forest, +firewood: 1900kWh/rm, 4.3kWh/kg;

Origin & habitat

Most parts of Europe, southern and eastern Morocco, Western Siberia, and Central Asia.

In water bodies, along rivers, wet areas, and as part of bogs.

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