Description
Betulaceae (family name)
Forage for Pollinators: Produces pollen for all bees.
Flowering time: February
Growing information: DECIDUOUS TREE native to the British Isles, growing up to 6m (20ft) x 3m (10ft). Suitable for a very wide range of sites from very acid to very alkaline and heavy, medium and lights soils. Often used in hedges, but better when allowed to grow without constant cutting when it will produce edible nuts from September to October. Being monoecious, individual male or female flowers are found on the same tree, and although wind-pollinated, the male flowers produce masses of yellow pollen which is feasted on by bees in early spring for storing in egg cells by wild bees and feeding honeybee queens to begin egglaying. The seed (nuts) are used raw and cooked, high in oils are good liquidized for making plant milk.
Photo by Emőke Dénes licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
