What is a weeping birch?

The weeping birch, or Betula pendula, is a medium sized tree with drooping branches, according to Virginia Tech's Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. It is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 through 6.

The weeping birch grows up to 65 feet high with an open crown. It has slender twigs and red-brown bark along with alternate, simple leaves that are two to four inches long. One-inch-long slender cones will also appear on a weeping birch and release two-winged nutlets. The tree's red-brown bark changes to white as it ages, and although the bark is typically smooth, it can peel as it gets older.