Silver Birch trees can grow up to 25 metres tall, and are especially common on heathland. They have characteristic silver bark, which is papery when young, and becomes darker when older, often with diamond-shaped fissures. The male catkins (which hang down) are larger than the erect female ones. The leaves are doubly-toothed, unlike those of Downy Birch, and turn yellow in autumn.

Catkins: male (below) and female (above)		Male catkins		Buds and early catkins

Mature bark with diamond pattern		Papery bark