Betula pubescens is a slender, deciduous tree with a conical shape. It has pendulous branches with downy stems and peeling white bark. Betula pubescens has diamond shaped green leaves which turn yellow in the autumn. It produces yellow-brown catkins in the spring. It will grow in either a sheltered or exposed position. Betula pubescens has an eventual height of 12m+ and a spread of 4-8m. It will grow on most soils, but prefers a moist well-drained position.