Downy birch
6
6
1Will it grow where I live?
Downy birch is hardy to zone 3 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 3 upwards.
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Profile
- Family
- Betulaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Height
- 25 m
- Spread
- 10 m
- Growth
- fast
- Lifespan
- 100 years
- First yield
- after 12 years
- Hardiness
- zone 3–7
- Shade tolerance
- full sun
- Soil
- Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay
- Soil moisture
- dry – near water
- pH
- 5.6 – 7.6
Uses
Origin & habitat
Open woodlands and heaths, mostly on acid soils, from sea level to 830 metres.
Frequently asked questions
Downy birch: how big does it get?
Downy birch (Betula pubescens) grows as a Tree and reaches roughly 25 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 10 m. Growth is fast.
Downy birch: what site does it need?
Downy birch tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay. Soil moisture should be in the range dry – near water. The pH may lie between 5.6 and 7.6.
Downy birch: is it hardy?
Downy birch is listed as hardy in zone 3–7 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Downy birch: will it grow in Central Europe?
Downy birch is hardy to zone 3 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 3 upwards.
Downy birch: is it poisonous?
Individual parts of Downy birch are noted as mildly problematic — the plant does not count as poisonous. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone, only on a confident identification.
Downy birch: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 6/10, Medicinal 6/10, Other uses 1/10.
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Community experience
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