Silver birch characteristics
The Silver birch has an attractive pendulous habit and distinctive white bark that peels away in papery strips. It grows as single-trunk tree that gradually transforms from pyramidal in shape to a more rounded, oval crown. Silver birch occurs most frequently on fertile forest site types and on afforested abandoned fields (Koivisto, 1959; Fries, 1964; Raulo, 1977; Oikarinen, 1983; Gustavsen and Mielikäinen, 1984; Niemistö, 1995b). The most important site characteristics for the vigorous growth of silver birch are adequate moisture and air content. Growing to 80 feet, its bark is dark in color, but unlike the dark river birch, the skin is relatively tight and smooth, with deep vertical scores. From a distance, the impression is of a smooth, silver bark marked by irregular vertical black lines.