Taxon: Betula pendula Roth

Summary

Genus:

Betula

Subgenus:

Betula

Section:

Betula

Family:

Betulaceae

Subfamily:

Betuloideae

Nomen number:

7127

Place of publication:

Tent. fl. Germ. 1:405. 1788

Verified:

09/15/2015 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

35 (20 active, 4 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Betula pendula Roth subsp. mandshurica (Regel) Ashburner & McAll. (12 active accession[s])
Betula pendula Roth subsp. pendula (0 active accession[s])
Betula pendula Roth subsp. szechuanica (C. K. Schneid.) Ashburner & McAll. (0 active accession[s])

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Betula pendula Roth f. purpurea (André) C. K. Schneid.

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)

Links

Forestry Images – from www.forestryimages.org

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Afonin, A. N., S. L. Greene, N. I. Dzyubenko, & A. N. Frolov, eds. Interactive agricultural ecological atlas of Russia and neighboring countries. Economic plants and their diseases, pests and weeds (on-line resource).
Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 277-297.
Bisset, N. G., ed. 1994. Herbal drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice on a scientific basis CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. Note: translation of German edition by M. Wichtl, ed.
Campbell, F. T., ed. 1995. Report of National Coalition of Exotic Plant Pest Councils (unpublished draft)
Castroviejo, S. et al., eds. 1989-. Flora iberica: plantas vasculares de la Peninsula Iberica e Islas Baleares.
Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
Czerepanov, S. K. 1973. Additamenta et corrigenda ad "Floram URSS."
Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1963. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.
Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
Govaerts, R. 1996. (1261) Proposal to reject the name Betula alba (Betulaceae). Taxon 45:697-698.
Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
International Seed Testing Association. 1971. A Multilingual Glossary of Common Plant-Names 2. Trees.
Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
Leung, A. Y. & S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, ed. 2
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Meyer, F. G. et al. 1994. A catalog of cultivated woody plants of the southeastern United States
Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
Pignatti, S. 1982. Flora d'Italia.
Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
Rehder, A. 1949. Bibliography of cultivated trees and shrubs.
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1993. Flora europaea, ed. 2.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).

Common names

Language	Name	Alternate name	seq	Citation
English	European white birch		1	Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
English	silver birch		1	Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
English	weeping birch		1	FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
Chinese	chui zhi hua	垂枝桦	2	Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
French	bouleau pleureur		2	FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
Italian	betulla		2	International Seed Testing Association. 1971. A Multilingual Glossary of Common Plant-Names 2. Trees.
Swedish	vårtbjörk		2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Africa	Northern Africa	Morocco		n.	Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Gansu Sheng		Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 292-297.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Hebei Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Heilongjiang Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Henan Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Jiangsu Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Jilin Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Liaoning Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Nei Mongol Zizhiqu		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Ningxia Huizi Zizhiqu		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Qinghai Sheng		Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 292-297.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Shaanxi Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Shanxi Sheng		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Sichuan Sheng	w.	Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 292-297.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu	n.	Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Xizang Zizhiqu	s.e.	Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 292-297.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China	Yunnan Sheng	n.	Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 292-297.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Japan	Hokkaidô		Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Japan	Honshu		Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Korea, North			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Kazakhstan		n.	Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Mongolia	Mongolia			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Russian Far East	Russian Federation	Amur		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Russian Far East	Russian Federation	Kamčatskij kraj		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Russian Far East	Russian Federation	Magadanskaja oblast'		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Russian Far East	Russian Federation	Primorye		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Russian Far East	Russian Federation	Sakhalin		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Siberia	Russian Federation	Buryatia		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Siberia	Russian Federation	Chita		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Siberia	Russian Federation	Yakutia-Sakha		Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Siberia	Russian Federation-Western Siberia	Western Siberia		Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Western Asia	Iran		n.	Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Western Asia	Iraq		n.	Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Western Asia	Turkey			Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
1	Native	Europe	Eastern Europe	Russian Federation-European part	European part		Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Eastern Europe	Ukraine		incl. Krym	Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Austria			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Belgium			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Czech Republic			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Germany			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Hungary			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Netherlands			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Poland			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Slovakia			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Switzerland			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	Denmark			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	Finland			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	Ireland			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	Norway			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	Sweden			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	United Kingdom			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Albania			Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Bosnia and Herzegovina			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Bulgaria			Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Croatia			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Greece			Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Italy		incl. Sicily	Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Montenegro			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	North Macedonia			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Romania			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Serbia			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Slovenia			Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
1	Native	Europe	Southwestern Europe	France		incl. Corsica	Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Europe	Southwestern Europe	Spain			Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Ontario	w.	Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 288-292.
1	Native	Northern America	Subarctic America	Canada	Yukon		Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 288-292.
1	Native	Northern America	Subarctic America	United States	Alaska		Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 288-292.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Alberta		Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 288-292.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	British Columbia		Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 288-292.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Manitoba		Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 288-292.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Saskatchewan		Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 288-292.
2	Cultivated					also cult.	Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
4	Naturalized					sometimes natzd. elsewhere

Native
Africa

NORTHERN AFRICA: Morocco (n.)

Asia-Temperate

WESTERN ASIA: Iran (n.), Iraq (n.), Turkey
SIBERIA: Russian Federation-Western Siberia [Western Siberia], Russian Federation [Buryatia, Chita, Yakutia-Sakha]
MIDDLE ASIA: Kazakhstan (n.)
MONGOLIA: Mongolia
RUSSIAN FAR EAST: Russian Federation [Primorye, Amur, Kamčatskij kraj, Magadanskaja oblast', Sakhalin]
CHINA: China [Gansu Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng, Henan Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Jilin Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Ningxia Huizi Zizhiqu, Qinghai Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Shanxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng (w.), Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu (n.), Xizang Zizhiqu (s.e.), Yunnan Sheng (n.)]
EASTERN ASIA: Japan [Hokkaidô, Honshu], Korea, North

Europe

NORTHERN EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden
MIDDLE EUROPE: Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia
EASTERN EUROPE: Russian Federation-European part [European part], Ukraine (incl. Krym)
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia
SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain, France (incl. Corsica)

Northern America

SUBARCTIC AMERICA: Canada [Yukon], United States [Alaska]
EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Ontario (w.)]
WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia]

Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized (sometimes natzd. elsewhere)

Reference(s)

Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 288-292.
Ashburner, K. & H. A. McAllister. 2013. The genus Betula, a taxonomic revision of birches Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 292-297.
Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
Govaerts, R. & D. G. Frodin. 1998. World checklist and bibliography of Fagales
Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
Jalas, J. & J. Suominen. 1972-. Atlas florae europaeae.
Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Environmental	ornamental		Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Environmental	ornamental		Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Materials	lipids	source of birch tar lipids	Leung, A. Y. & S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, ed. 2
Medicines	folklore		Bisset, N. G., ed. 1994. Herbal drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice on a scientific basis CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. Note: translation of German edition by M. Wichtl, ed.
Weed	seed contaminant	potential	Campbell, F. T., ed. 1995. Report of National Coalition of Exotic Plant Pest Councils (unpublished draft)

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=7127. Accessed 12 May 2026.