Betula pendula at Cathays Cemetery

Betula pendula 0

Betula pendula
mid November 2021

Grid reference ST 18231 78612
Common name Silver birch
Origin Europe & N. Asia
Deciduous Yes
Map section M
Height 20M November 2021
Girth 167cm November 2021
Reference 779

This tree is immediately south and very close to the chapels.

Betula pendula bark

Betula pendula bark
mid November 2021

Betula pendula leaf1

Betula pendula leaves at fall
mid November 2021

General tree description

Betula pendula is a medium-sized tree up to 30 metres tall with slender, weeping twigs. Its bark is silvery white, but develops dark, scaly patches, eventually becoming black and rugged at the base. The leaves are small (3 to 7cm long) and light green, triangular with double-toothed edges. In autumn they turn a rich yellow colour. The flowers are catkins, both male and female found on the same tree from April to May. Male catkins are yellow-brown, up to 3cm long, and hang in groups of two to four at the tips of shoots. Female catkins are bright green, shorter and erect. They become dark crimson after pollination, breaking up to release masses of tiny seeds in autumn.