Identification Features:

• Bark: Smooth, silvery-white, often peeling away to reveal grey or pinky-orange underneath. More mature trees developing dark, diamond-shaped fissures. The lower part of the trunk typically becomes very deeply fissured, rugged and corky.
• Twigs: Fine, delicate, smooth, burgundy color with many white resin glands. Shoots pendulous.
• Buds: Small (4-5mm), green, egg-shaped and pointed.

Description/General Character:
Vigorous, fast-growing pioneer species. Young branches point upwards but eventually, their tips take on a weeping nature, putting the pendulous in pendula.

Range:
Widespread tree throughout northern Europe, extending into northern Asia.Habitat: In forests throughout its range. Forming stands on open hillsides and heath. It can be one of, if not the only, deciduous tree in upland areas and amongst the needled-trees at the northerly extent of its range.

Other Observations:
Catkins from early in winter. Male catkins shiny green to brown-purple in clusters of 2-4.