White Birch | Description, Tree, Wood, & Facts - Britannica

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white birch, any of several species of ornamental and timber trees of the genus Betula in the family Betulaceae. The trees are native to cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere and have white peeling bark. The name white birch also refers to paper birch (B. papyrifera). See also birch.

One species of white birch, also known as downy birch (B. pubescens), is a tree about 18 metres (60 feet) tall and is native to Eurasia. It has egg-shaped leaves, usually hairy below. The soft yellowish or reddish white wood is commercially important in construction and in the manufacture of vehicles, furniture, and small articles such as spoons and snowshoes.

The European white birch (B. pendula), also known as silver birch or common birch, has slender drooping branches and small sharp-pointed leaves about 6 cm (2 inches) long. It may grow to a height of 15 metres (49 feet) on light soils. The cut-leaved, purple-leaved, and weeping birches are popular ornamental varieties of European white birch.

Related Topics: birch downy birch Asian white birch European white birch (Show more) On the Web: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Medicinal plants of the genus Betula—Traditional uses and a phytochemical–pharmacological review (Feb. 23, 2026) (Show more) See all related content Field of baobab trees, Madagascar. (bottle tree) Britannica Quiz Trees of the World

The Asian white birch (B. platyphylla), an 18-metre tree native to eastern Asia, has broad leaves about 7 cm (3 inches) long; its hard yellow-white wood is used for furniture and woodenware.

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