Plant
ð²
ð²
Size
15â25 mAbout the height of a 6-storey building
Lifespan
80â120 years
Rarity
Common
M vs F
N/A â trees have separate male and female catkins on the same tree
Habitat
Woodland, heathland, moorland edges, disturbed ground â a pioneer species that colonises bare soil
Best time
Year-round; catkins in April, golden leaves in October
Conservation
UK: Green
LC
💡 Did you know?
Silver Birch is one of the first trees to colonise bare or disturbed land â and one of the first to be lost as other trees grow up and shade it out, making it a restless pioneer
A single birch tree can support over 300 species of invertebrates â its leaves, bark, fungal associations and deadwood are all critical for specialist wildlife
Often confused with
Downy Birch (rounded leaves
hairy twigs
more upland â very similar)
Alder (dark bark
cones
near water)
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