Downy birch, white birch

The downy birch is often confused with the common silver birch but it is a distinct species having characteristic downy shoots and a grey white bark. As a garden tree it makes a striking specimen and is more suited to wetter and poorly drained soils than the silver birch. Ideal for a wildlife garden planted in groups, the delicate diamond-shaped leaves have striking yellow autumn colour, and yellow-brown catkins in early spring.