Birch, the most complete medicinal tree

View of a birch forest

El birch It is one of the most common deciduous trees in Europe, and also one of the gardens that enjoy a temperate climate. The whitish bark of its trunk and its spectacular autumn colors, in addition to the little space it needs to develop, make it one of those plants with which you can have a paradise as soon as you leave the door of the house.

Its care is also very interesting, both for beginners and for the more advanced. So If you want to know everything about him, you cannot miss this special.

Origin and characteristics

Birch, a beautiful garden tree

Birch, whose scientific name is Betula pendula, is a deciduous tree native to Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia. It also grows in northern Turkey, the Caucasus, and in Canada. It is popularly known as birch, white birch, common birch, pendulum birch, verrucous birch, albar, white alder, bédul, beduch, bedul, bieso, biezo, white poplar and wild poplar.

It is characterized by having a thin and tall trunk, 30 meters high, with bark of a pure white when adult and brownish when young. The crown is ovate, dense, with erect branches. The leaves measure about 6cm counting the petiole, and are green in color that changes to yellow in autumn before falling.

Blooms in late winter. The female flowers appear in solitary catkins of 1 to 5cm, and the male ones measure about 3-3cm and appear in groups of 6 or 2. The fruit is a bialate samara.

Cultivation and care

Would you like to have a copy? If so, we recommend that you provide the following care:

Location

It is a tree that it must be placed outside, full sun. It is very important to plant it at a minimum distance of 6 meters from the wall of the house, pipes and others, since although it does not take up too much space, its root system is one that extends a lot.

Land

Prefers cool soils, rich in organic matter, and acids (pH between 4 and 6). It can also be kept in gardens with limestone earth, but it must not be compact.

Irrigation

Very frequent. Birch is a tree that lives near water courses, so it is very important to water it very often: every 4-5 days in summer and somewhat less the rest of the year.

Subscriber

From early spring to late summer can be paid with organic fertilizers, such as guano (like this one from here) or the manure.

Planting time

In spring, when the risk of frost has passed.

Pruning

Pruning birch alone it is reduced to removing dry, diseased or weak branches in autumn when the leaves fall or in late winter before bud break.

Multiplication

Birch flowers can be female or male

Image - Wikimedia / Talen

Seeds

To multiply it by seeds you must first stratify them for three months in the fridge filling a tupperware with vermiculite, then bury them a little in the substrate, water and place the container in the appliance, where dairy products, sausages and others are put.

When that time has passed, you have to proceed to sow them in a seedbed following this step by step:

  1. The first thing we will do is fill the seedbed with universal culture substrate mixed with 30% perlite.
  2. Afterwards, we water and pour the seeds on the surface.
  3. Then, we cover them with a thin layer of substrate and sprinkle copper or sulfur to prevent the appearance of fungi.
  4. Finally, we spray with water and place the seedbed outside, in full sun.

If everything goes fine will germinate throughout the spring.

Cuttings

A quicker way to get birch specimens is by cuttings taken in late winter. For that what we will do is cut a branch of about 40cm, impregnate its base with powdered rooting hormones (we can buy them here) or with homemade rooting agents and then plant it in a pot with universal substrate.

We place it in semi-shade, and in 2-3 months we will have a new birch.

Layered

If we want to make sure we get a new birch, we can multiply it by air layering in spring. The way to proceed is as follows:

  • The first thing we will do is cut a 1-2cm wide ring of bark to a branch that looks healthy.
  • Afterwards, we spray it with water and impregnate it with powdered rooting hormones.
  • Now we take a dark colored plastic bag, open it at the end, and place it on the branch by tying one side with a rope or wire.
  • Then, we fill the bag with universal growing substrate previously moistened with water and tie the other end of the bag to the branch so that the soil is not lost.
  • Finally, we are watering with a syringe frequently.

In 2-3 months it will emit its own roots and, later on, we will be able to separate our new specimen from the mother plant.

Rusticity

Resists frosts down to -18ºC; on the other hand, it cannot live well in climates with temperatures above 35ºC.

Can it be worked as bonsai?

Yes, of course. Birch bonsai is one of the, in fact, most can be found for sale in nurseries. Their care is as follows:

  • Location: outside, in full sun.
  • Irrigation: frequent. It does not withstand drought.
  • Substratum: 100% akadama (you can buy it here).
  • Subscriber: from spring to late summer with a liquid bonsai fertilizer (like this one here)Flower 10724 - Bonsai liquid fertilizer, 300 ml following the instructions specified on the package.
  • Styles: fits almost everyone without problems: forest, formal vertical, informal vertical.
  • Pruning: it must be shaped when it is still young, removing those branches that stand out from the style.
  • Transplant: every 2-3 years.

What uses does it have?

Birch in autumn turns yellow

Ornamental

It is a tree with a high ornamental value. It looks great in the gardens, either as a solitary specimen or in groups. Although it does not give much shade, it is perfect for, for example, having as a natural screen.

Birch properties

It is a very complete medicinal plant, whose properties are: antiseptic, antifungal, cleansing, anti-inflammatory, febrifuge, astringent, anti-hemorrhagic, healing and analgesic. This means that used to:

  • relieve headache
  • fluid retention
  • delay or prevent hair loss
  • fever
  • treat urinary tract infections
  • Take care of the skin
  • drop
  • treat arthritis, rheumatism and osteoarthritis
  • depurative
  • relieve pain

The dosage is:

  • Internal use: prepare an infusion with a small spoonful of dried birch leaves for every 200ml of water. Let it rest for 3 minutes, strain it and finally drink it.
  • External use: the essential oil that is extracted from the sap is highly concentrated, so its use is recommended under the supervision of a professional.

Contraindications

Birch is a very interesting plant, but it is important not to take an infusion for more than two weeks in a row. In addition, if we are already taking medications with anticoagulant action, we have irritable bowel syndrome or colitis, we will not be able to take it.

View of the young trunk of a birch

Image - Flickr / Peter O'Connor

What did you think of this tree?


4 comments, leave yours

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  1.   Jc said

    It seems to me a wonderful tree, not only for its beauty but also for how strong it is and its ability to reproduce.

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      I agree with you Jc. It is a splendid tree, as long as it is planted in the right place of course 🙂

      Regards!

  2.   Carlos said

    One use of birch that is not mentioned here is for making musical drums. The birch wood is laminated and with this veneer the shells of the drums (between 4 and 8 mm thick) are assembled
    The sound that is achieved is one of the best, very warm, with very limited harmonics, giving a compact and deep sound at the same time.

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Interesting fact, Carlos. Thanks!