Birch
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The European birch (Betula pendula) is a deciduous tree of the genus Betula, in the family Betulaceae, native to most of Europe. Usually called simply the birch, it is a relatively small tree, with a slender trunk and crown. Its bark is pale brown, with fine, horizontal lenticels, and its twigs are slender and pliable.

Birch can be grown in almost any soil as long as it is not waterlogged. It prefers a moist but well-drained, slightly acidic soil, rich in organic matter. Prefers a sunny position but tolerates light shade. Grows well on chalk. Succeeds in most soils, including heavy clay soils, but prefers a moist, well-drained slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter. Prefers a sunny position but tolerates light shade. Grows well on chalk. A very ornamental tree, there are many named varieties.

Botanical Data

Specie: Betula pendula

Common Names: Breza, common birch

Family: Betulaceae

Sub Family: Coryloideae

Tribe: Coryleae
Sub tribe: Coryleae
Genus: Betula
Plant type: tree
Perennial: yes
Endangered:
Link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_white_birch
Application/Uses
edible rating:
low
edible uses:
The inner bark can be eaten raw or cooked, and is rich in vitamins and minerals. It can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickener in soups or added to cereals
medicinal rating:
average
medicinal uses:
health concerns:
other uses:
Wood - light, soft, not strong, close grained, takes a good polish. Used for furniture, interior joinery, turnery, veneer, paper pulp etc. The wood is a source of wood rosin. A good fuel, it burns rapidly with a good heat. The wood is sometimes used as a substitute for alder (Alnus glutinosa) in the making of charcoal. Young trees can be coppiced and the resulting wood is used for small objects requiring a very fine grain. The bark is a good source of tannin. It is used commercially in the tanning of leather. The wood and bark are used in herbal medicine. The inner bark is rich in vitamins and minerals and can be eaten raw or cooked. It can also be dried and ground into a powder then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals. The young leaves are used as a salad green, they should be used before they unfurl. The leaves and buds are used in herbal medicine.

Edible parts:


leaves | sap | inner bark |

#Tags:


nitrogen fixing | carbon farming | fire wood | building wood | erosion preventing | bee friendly | visual appeal | easy propagating | tea
Location Based Data
geo location:
Krcedin
geo region:
Europe - Panonian plain
language used:
english

native:
yes

flowering start month:
april
flowering start day:
beggining
flowering lasts for
60 days

fruiting start month:
fruiting start day:
fruiting time:
None

seed start month:
july
seed start day:
beggining

indoor seed start month:
indoor seed start day:
transplant month:
transplant day:
Growing Data
area needed:
5.0m
spacing around the plant:
3.0m
grow time (non perennials):
None days

growing difficulty:
low
plant is
evergreen

seed optimal temperature:
15°C
seed minimal temperature:
15°C
seed maximal temperature:
30°C

plant optimal temperature:
15°C
plant minimal temperature:
-30°C
seed maximal temperature:
30°C

water:
low
humidity:
root type:
shallow

light:
high
hardness (1-10):
5
frost tender:
low

first harvest in
2 years
life span is
100 years
succession level

growth rate is
fast
max height is
30.0m
max weight is
10.0m

soil preferance:
ph preferance:
flower type:
monoecious

growth details:
Birch can be grown in almost any soil as long as it is not waterlogged. It prefers a moist but well-drained, slightly acidic soil, rich in organic matter. Prefers a sunny position but tolerates light shade. Grows well on chalk. Succeeds in most soils, including heavy clay soils, but prefers a moist, well-drained slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter. Prefers a sunny position but tolerates light shade. Grows well on chalk. A very ornamental tree, there are many named varieties.
potential disturbances:
birch canker, bronze birch borer, birch sawfly, birch skeletonizer, gypsy moth