Downy birch (Betula pubescens)

The leaves of Betula pubescens are green

Image - Wikimedia / Emr

Few deciduous trees are as cold hardy as the Betula pubescens. In fact, we can find it even in Greenland. Both its size and its growth rate vary a lot depending on the climatic conditions: thus, while in the Arctic it does not usually exceed 5-6 meters in height, in places with a milder climate it can reach 30 meters.

It is a very interesting species to grow in gardens that are covered with snow every year., without the need for them to be too large since their trunk is rather thin.

Origin and characteristics of Betula pubescens

Betula pubescens is a tree with a cosmopolitan distribution

Image - Wikimedia / Giovanni Caudullo

It is a deciduous tree native to northern Europe, Iceland, northern Asia, and Greenland. In Spain it is frequent in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the Cantabrian Mountains, Iberian system and Central system. It belongs to the genus Betula, that of the birch trees.

It grows to a height of between 5 and 30 meters., with a cup of about 70 centimeters in diameter. The leaves are green, although being covered by very short hairs gives the impression that they are green-whitish. These are ovate in shape, with a sharp apex, and are 2 to 5 centimeters long by 1,5 to 4,5 centimeters wide, with a somewhat serrated margin.

The flowers are called catkins; that is to say, they are inflorescences with a hanging shape, 1-2 centimeters wide by about 5-7 centimeters long. The fruits are cylindrical, 1 to 4 centimeters long by 5 to 7 centimeters in diameter, and contain seeds with two wings of about 2 millimeters.

What are the care you need?

If you want to have a copy of Betula pubescens, we recommend that you provide the following care:

Climate

Our protagonist is a tree that so that you can live well (and not survive) you need the climate to be temperate, and cold in winter. Evolution has prepared it so that its branches are able to support the weight of snow, to know that growth must be suspended in winter in order to save water and stay alive, and to flourish and bear fruit when the weather conditions are adequate.

If we had it in, for example, the Mediterranean region, where summers can be very hot (40ºC depending on the area) and winters are quite mild in general (down to -7ºC), we would most certainly have to engineer them so that it was moderately well.

Experimenting with plants is great, but only if you do it with your head. If we do not want to spend money in vain, it is very important that we find out what is the rusticity and the needs of the species that we want to cultivate, and see if the conditions of our garden, patio or terrace could be good for them.

Location

El Betula pubescens it is a tree that must be abroad, in full sun or in semi-shade.

Earth

  • Garden: grows in soils rich in organic matter, and acids (pH between 4 and 6). It fears limestone soils.
  • Flower pot: It is not a plant that can be grown in a container for a long time, but while it is young it is very beautiful in a pot. It must be filled with substrate for acidic plants.

Irrigation

View of the Betula pubescens

Image - Wikimedia / Orcaborealis

Frequent waterings. It is not an aquatic plant, but it does like the soil to be moist. Drought periods seriously harm it, which is why it must be watered frequently with rainwater or without lime.

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From early spring to late summer it is highly recommended to pay it with Organic fertilizers, like guano or mulch. If you have it in a pot, it is highly advisable to use liquid fertilizers, following the instructions specified on the container.

Pruning

Don't need it. Remove only dry, diseased, weak and broken branches.

Planting or transplanting time

It is a tree to be planted in the garden late winter, when the risk of frost has passed. In case of having it in a pot, you should transfer it to a larger one when you see that roots grow out of the drainage holes, and / or when it has occupied the entire pot.

Multiplication

El Betula pubescens multiplies by seeds in autumn (needs to be cold before germinating) or by cuttings in late winter or spring. You can also by graft in spring.

Rusticity

It resists very intense frosts without problems, down to -20ºC. However, it cannot live in places where the climate is tropical or warm.

What uses is given to Betula pubescens?

This species of birch has several uses:

Ornamental

It is a very beautiful plant, ideal to have as an isolated specimen, in groups or alignments, as in tall hedges for example. As it can be kept in a pot for many years, it also looks great on patios or terraces.

Medicinal

There are studies that show that betulinic acid, an active principle that its bark contains, may be effective against some types of cancer (here you have information about it; is in English).

View of the Betula pubescens

Image - Wikimedia / Willow

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