Grid reference | ST 17843 79617 |
Common name | River birch |
Common name | Red birch |
Origin | Central and Eastern USA |
Deciduous | Yes |
Height | 11.5M August 2015 |
Girth | 90cm August 2015 |
Reference | 279 |
The most westerly of a group of three Betula nigra trees on the approach road to the main car park.
General tree description
Betula nigra is a small, broad tree growing to around 16 metres in Britain. Its bark is cream or pinkish-orange at first, becoming shaggy and dark brown or amost black in age. The leaves are diamond shaped, 4 to 8cm long, with serrated edges, dull green above and glaucous underneath. The flowers are catkins 3 to 6cm long, the male catkins drooping, the female catkins erect. The fruit matures in late spring, releasing numerous tiny winged seeds.