Betula pubescens (syn.
Betula alba), commonly known as
downy birch and also as
moor birch,
white birch,
European white birch or
hairy birch, is a species of deciduous tree, native and abundant throughout northern Europe and northern Asia, growing farther north than any other broadleaf tree. It is closely related to, and often confused with, the silver birch (
B. pendula), but grows in wetter places with heavier soils and poorer drainag
(Wikipedia)