Help to identify this tree

Hi all,

Please forgive my total ignorance, but I was wondering if someone can help me and my mum identify this tree. She's always thought it was a silver birch, but having researched quite a bit today, it doesn't look like one. It's "dome" shaped, roughly, and beautiful to sit under; there's one tall branch heading skywards, so I reckon it's about 18 feet in height. It was here when we bought the house four years ago, and we've never pruned it, but it's becoming bigger and the branches (as you can see from the photos) are beginning to droop under their own weight. I don't want to touch it until I know exactly what it is, and how to prune it to avoid bleeding etc.

So - any ideas what it is? Photos below, which you can click to get bigger versions

Many, many thanks in advance. I've spent a week in her house trimming two massive eucalyptus trees which have each grown 8 or 9 feet in 12 months. Astonishing. Beautiful trees, but they really need careful maintenance!

Will
(Devon)

 

Its certainly a Silver Birch, Betula. There are many varieties of Betula, for example there is Betula pendula, Betula utilis, and many many more. Have a look around on the net for a variety that is closest to yours, or try one of the RHS garden encyclopeadias.

Hope this Helps!

 

Fantastic. Thanks very much. It definitely needs cutting back but will heed your advice, and probably wait until November to make sure it doesn't bleed itself to death.

Cheers!

 

Agree with Plant1star, it's a silver birch.

 

I want a better look at the trunk. Though it IS a Silver Birch, I think it may be suffering from Bleeding Canker. I would like better pics of the dark, wet looking areas, please.

 

Thanks Redwing. Daitheplant, here are some photos from my iPhone. If they're too rubbish, shout, and I'll take some with a proper camera. And do let me know your diagnosis - worrying!

 

Personally I dont think silver birch ever recover or look good after pruning unless done at a very early stage.

If it was neded I would cut back to the truck - ie take out a whole branch but only one or two a year. But even then I'm not sure how well they would callous up so it would be only small branches

 

Take some with the camera, please. does that area look like it`s "bleeding"?

 

I thought bleeding canker was a Horse Chestnut disease.. not birch!

 

The sap from Birch can be used like Maple syrup, and is one of several trees that bleed quite profusely if damaged in any way. Just a thought, Will, but does anyone climb your tree?

 

As far as I`m aware it can affect any species of tree.
:gnthb: