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People also ask
Are birches native to Scotland?
Where do birch trees grow?
Where do silver birch trees grow?
Which birch trees are best?
What trees are native to the UK?
What does a silver birch tree look like?
Birch facts. Birches, including silver birch (Betula pendula) and downy birch (Betula pubescens) are the most common native trees in Scotland, are a vital part of the Caledonian Forest, both as pioneer species in the pinewoods and through forming extensive stands of their own.
Origin: native. Silver birch is a striking, medium-sized deciduous tree. When mature they can reach 30m in height, forming a light canopy with elegant, drooping branches. The white bark sheds layers like tissue paper and becomes black and rugged at the base.
Explore our simple A-Z identification guide to the trees of Britain, from natives to naturalised and widely planted non-native species. You'll find images, tree descriptions and information on where you're likely to find them.
Alder Swamp-dweller, water-lover. The wood of this tough tree doesn’t rot when waterlogged, instead turning stronger and harder.- Alder buckthorn A reputation for causing a bang. Alder buckthorn is used to make gunpowder, pigments and dyes. It’s a beloved plant of the brimstone butterfly.
- Ash One of our most beloved trees. Ash is one of the most common trees in the UK, but as ash dieback sweeps through, is it set to be erased from our countryside?
- Aspen Trembling, fluttering and shimmering in the slightest breeze. The rippling leaves of this beautiful tree give it its name: quaking aspen.
- Beech, common Monumental, majestic, home to rare wildlife. Beech is an enchanting species and known as the queen of British trees. To wander beneath the leafy canopy, its cathedral-like branches spreading upwards, is an awe-inspiring experience.
- Birch, downy Soft on the outside. Tough on the inside. On a global scale, this tree, with its fuzzy leaf stalks, shoots and twigs, grows further north than any other broadleaf species.
- Birch, silver Pretty, pale, a symbol of purity. This common tree, with its silver-white bark, is favoured by gardeners who want to renew and purify their land for coming year.
- Blackthorn Early to blossom, blackthorn trees have clouds of snow-white flowers in early spring. They’re best known for their rich, inky, dark fruits used to make a favourite wintry tipple – sloe gin.
- Box, common A native evergreen that’s at home in your garden. Box is so special it’s got a hill named after it. Box Hill in Surrey takes its name from the ancient box woodland on its steep chalk slopes.
- Buckthorn, purging Prickly and with the ability to purge. This plant’s common name harks back its use as a laxative. It’s a fierce, invasive species in North America.
- Cherry, bird A stunning, scented show-stopper of a tree. In spring, nectar-loving animals flock to this beautiful tree for its almond-scented blossom.
- Cherry, wild Beautiful blossom and a bounty of bright red fruits. Wild cherry , one of the prettiest native trees, is relished by gardeners and wildlife.
- Crab apple A symbol of fertility and a forager's delight. Crab apple trees are associated with love and marriage and its small, hard fruits make an exquisite, jewel-coloured jelly.
- Dogwood Understated until the colder months when it bursts into colour, dogwood is a broadleaf shrub which thrives in damp woodland edges. The timber is so hard, it was used for crucifixes.
- Elm, English Once growing to lofty heights, the elegant English elm used to dominate the landscape. Now this ancient symbol of melancholy and death is a rare sight, having been decimated by Dutch elm disease.
- Elm, field A phoenix from the ashes, the field elm has been able to recover from the decimation of Dutch elm disease thanks to its ability to grow easily. However, it’s still under threat, along with the wildlife that relies on it.
- Elm, Huntingdon A hardy cultivar, the Huntingdon elm is a hybrid with some resistance to the devastating Dutch elm disease.
- Elm, wych Decimated by Dutch elm disease, the sweeping and majestic wych elm is a much rarer sight these days. Its loss goes hand-in-hand with the decline of the elusive white-letter hairstreak butterfly, whose caterpillars rely on elm leaves.
- Guelder rose Flamboyant, romantic, wildlife beacon. The guelder rose brightens woods with spring blossom, autumn colour and vibrant berries.
- Hawthorn Named after the month in which it blooms and a sign that spring is turning to summer. The pale green leaves of this hedgerow staple are often the first to appear in spring, with an explosion of pretty pale-pink blossom in May. It simply teems with wildlife from bugs to birds.
- BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
- Betula 'Fascination' A cultivar of Chinese red birch (Betula albosinensis var. septentrionalis), Betula 'Fascination' is a relatively narrow and upright birch tree.
- Betula albosinensis var. septentrionalis. Chinese red birch has beautiful greyish bark with pink overtones. It's one of the best small trees for autumn colour – its bark gently peels, leaving a contrasting creamy bark beneath, while its leaves turn a bright and buttery shade of yellow.
- Betula utilis 'Grayswood Ghost' A cultivar of Himalayan birch, Betula utilis, 'Grayswood Ghost' is one of the best birch trees for winter interest, thanks to its gleaming white bark.
- Betula nigra 'Cully' A cultivar of river birch, Betula nigra, which is native to North America, 'Cully' is best for damp soils. It has cream-brown shaggy bark and glossy foliage.
Quick facts. Common name: downy birch, hairy birch, moor birch, white birch, common white birch, European white birch. Scientific name: Betula pubescens. Family: Betulaceae. Origin: native. Mature trees can reach 30m in height, forming a light canopy with elegant, drooping branches.
It is widely accepted that ‘native’ trees and shrubs are those species that have occurred naturally in Britain since the last Ice Age. The more recent introductions that have established themselves in the wild are referred to as ‘naturalised’ or ‘archeophytes’.
One of the first trees to recolonise the UK after the last glacial period, it is an opportunistic species; its seeds are produced in huge numbers and dispersed easily by the wind. How to identify Birches are easily recognised by their white, papery bark.
