Betula pendula

Silver birch is a member of the birch or Betulaceae family and is native to much of Europe and parts of Asia. It has been introduced into North America where in some areas of the U.S. and Canada it is considered invasive.

• Leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to nearly triangular, up to 10 cm long, doubly serrate, long pointed at the tip.
• Species is monoecious; males form groups of 2-3 catkins near the end of the twig; females are upright, slender, light green, about 2.5 cm long in the spring. They form cone-like seed-bearing cylinders by fall which disintegrate in the winter, dispersing the seed.
• Bark is white, smooth, peeling only slightly; the base of the tree develops thick bark which splits into black furrows, a distinguishing silver birch from other birches (although similar to Sichuan Birch (B. szechuanica)).