European Weeping Birch — Betula pendula gracilis

Betula is from the Celtic betu, meaning birch; pendula means hanging down; gracilis means graceful or slender. In past years beer was prepared from the sap of the European birches. Popular for the graceful weeping habit and striking white bark, this European native is widely planted in Colorado cities where ample moisture is available.

The biggest enemy of this species in Colorado is the prolonged dry winters. Without supplemental watering, many roots may die and the tree will perish when warm weather resumes. For this reason it is best planted on a north or east exposure where soils will generally remain cooler and more evenly moist.

The deeply dissected, rhombic.shaped leaves are characteristic of this variety. Upright forms with undissected leaves are more typical of the natives of Europe but are less appealing, reportedly not as hardy and thus, less frequently planted than the weeping, cutleaf form. Black lines in the otherwise white bark are scars from branches and the lenticels (“breathing pores”). Damage to the thin outer, white bark will not be replaced with new white bark but rather an ugly, black scar will remain.

The white bark is a target for vandals and “lovers” initials. For this reason, few new plantings of the tree will be seen in public park and recreation areas.

Other locations in Denver

Widely planted throughout the Denver southeast area.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Weeping_Birch