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Birch, White

White birch is a medium-sized hardwood native to parts of Europe, northern Asia, the Arctic and North America. (This is not Australian white birch)

Other Names

Silver Birch, English Birch, Finnish Birch, Swedish Birch, European Birch, Betula verrucosa, Betula maximowicziana

Botanical Name

Betula pubescens

Common Form
Sawn
Species Type
Hardwood
a close-up of a wood surface

White birch is a medium-sized hardwood native to parts of Europe, northern Asia, the Arctic and North America. In Europe it is known as Betula pubescens, while in Japan it is known as Betula maximowicziana.

The timber is pale in appearance with the heartwood ranging from a cream to pale brown, while the Japanese species tends to be more of a yellowish red colour. The sapwood is off-white and may not be well demarcated from the heartwood. The grain of White birch can be straight or interlocked with a fine, uniform texture.

White birch is easy to work and glues and finishes well. It is used mainly for the manufacture of plywood and as furniture. Other applications include shelving, cases, coffin boards, turnery, match splints and toys.

In Australia, white birch is mainly seen as plywood or imported furniture and is available in limited quantities.