The European white birch (B. pendula, sometimes erroneously called B. alba), also known as silver birch or common birch, has slender, drooping branches and small, sharp-pointed leaves about 6 cm (2 inches) long. Most birches are characterized by distinctive bark with papery plates; the appearance of the bark often is the feature that gives the species its common names. On a white birch, the male catkins often grow in threes and are up to 4 inches long, with the female catkins half as long. One species of white birch, B. pubescens, is a tree about 18 m (60 feet) tall and is native to Eurasia. Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, Herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist with decades of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals. The bark is dark red-brown to blackish, and smooth. Corrections? Paper birch is not a large tree in Iowa and is used primarily for ornamental plantings. Birch trees prefer to occupy habitats in cool, moist areas, including peatlands (moors, peatbogs), river banks, and lakeshores. The name white birch also refers to paper birch. long (7 cm), with some golden-yellow fall color before they shed for the winter. Water birch typically occurs along streams in mountainous regions, where it grows in dense thickets. Various White Birch Trees (Source Links at Bottom of Article) Русский: Игорь Шпиленок, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikipedia; Nicholas A. Tonelli Flickr, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr Birch trees have been specially bred for ornamental purposes for over a hundred years, resulting in an astounding number of birch … The tree derives its name from its nature of easily peeling off, or flaking like a parchment of paper. Regionally, the cherry birch may be called by other common names, including black birch, sweet birch, mahogany birch, Virginia roundleaf birch, or spice birch. Updates? When planted in residential landscapes, it grows well around bodies of water or in boggy areas. The male and female flowers of birches, called catkins, exist on the same tree. European white birch is a fast-growing, graceful tree with creamy white bark that peels to … Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Inspect the bark of all the white birches. Compendium Index From BC Tree Atlas The Distribution and Synopsis of Ecological and Silvical Characteristics of Tree Species of British Columbia (2000) which was used as the basis for the tree species compendia. It is a single-stemmed tree with yellow-bronze bark that peels in narrow horizontal strips. The dwarf birch is rarely planted in landscapes, but it is important cover vegetation in cold northern territories. They are typically small to medium-sized trees and shrubs found in temperate zones in the Northern Hemisphere. Most birches are water lovers, which can be great if you have soil that tends to be moist. White Birch. The cut-leaved, purple-leaved, and weeping birches are popular ornamental varieties of European white birch. The soft, yellowish- or reddish-white wood is commercially important in construction and in the manufacture of vehicles, furniture, and small articles such as spoons and snowshoes. Buds, catkins and leaves along with twigs and bark are a source of food for birds and other wildlife. Betula papyrifera (paper birch, also known as (American) white birch and canoe birch) is a short-lived species of birch native to northern North America. The various species of birch trees in the Betula genus include at least 12 that are important landscape trees. Name: Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera), also known as Canoe Birch.. Paper birch is named for the tree's thin white bark, which often peels in paper like layers from the trunk. Betula nana is a small dwarf shrub, native to arctic and cool temperate regions, especially tundra landscapes. Consequently older trees have a much darker trunk and bark. Birch species are normally small to medium-size trees or shrubs, mostly of temperate climates and boreal zones of the northern hemisphere. Insect pests are most likely to strike a birch tree in areas where it is wounded or diseased. Bog birch is a good choice for rain gardens. The Silver birch has an attractive pendulous habit and distinctive white bark that peels away in papery strips. This species, also known as Asian white birch, is a medium to large tree with white bark and thin spreading branches that terminate in drooping branchlets. Whether you plant European white birch (Betula pendula) or paper birch (Betula papyrifera), your pruners will sit on the shelf most of the time. The usual lifespan of the birch is 40-50 years. Rainbow of colors Bradley D. Saum / Shutterstock There are about 60 different species of birch. Birch polypore grows primarily on birch trees, and has no look-alikes. Includes Betula nigra 'BNMTF' Dura Heat™, Betula nigra 'Cully' Heritage™, Betula papyrifera - Paper Birch, Betula pendula 'Dalecarlica' - Cut-leaf Birch, Betula pendula 'Fastigiata', Betula pendula - Silver Birch, Betula platyphylla 'Fargo' Dakota Pinnacle™, Betula platyphylla var. This compendium is provided for reference and is not the only source of relevant information that may be considered when making decisions about tree species feasibility and suitability. The bark of most poplars is dark colored, hard, fissured or furrowed on the mature specimens. Birch is the name of a certain tree of the genus Betula, in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. A main requirement is consistently moist soil. The bark is usually bright in colour, from red on very young stems to becoming white/silver with age. Also coming in a more trim trunk is the Japanese White Birch. The white birch is a medium sized tree that can grow up to 25 meters tall. It has distinctive salmon-pink to reddish-brown bark that exfoliates to reveal lighter inner bark providing year round interest in the landscape. Do not let this deter you though; these are magnificent trees and should definitely be considered for inclusion in your landscape. Broken twigs emit a spicy wintergreen fragrance and fermented sap is an ingredient in birch beer. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Exact details such as growing zones and height will depend on the particular variety. Flowering in April and May, the tree produces fruiting catkins from August through October and serves as a food source for deer, moose, rabbits and various birds. It grows as single-trunk tree that gradually transforms from pyramidal in shape to a more rounded, oval crown. The Japanese white birch (B. platyphylla japonica), an 18-metre tree native to eastern Asia, has broad leaves about 7 cm long; its hard, yellow-white wood is used for furniture and woodenware. It is found everywhere in Ontario except for along the shore of Hudson Bay. The bark, on mature trees, develops vertical cracks that form irregular scaly plates, closely resembling the bark of cherry trees. Tree Galleries on the left give you information about the specific tree type and lots of great pictures of that tree. In young trees the bark is reddish-brown, but this changes to white as they mature. Description These are small to medium-sized trees living up to 140 years. Furrowed : This bark is the most common type of bark out there, and this is what most people think of when you talk about tree bark. Color of the bark is commonly white and reddish-brown. The leaves are ovoid and the flowers are yellow. This tree can grow to be about 50 feet to 80 feet tall, and need that full sun with a hint of shade for the greatest results. The yellow birch has a bark to it that contains more of a sheen, giving it an elegant feel in a sense. It may grow either as a single-trunk tree or a multi-trunk clumping tree. Weeping white birch, or silver birch as it is also called, is the European birch, Betula pendula. It can grow either as a single-trunk tree or in small clumps with multiple trunks. As this blog makes clear, it is very pest prone, and since gardeners mostly stopped using strong insecticides, it is very difficult to keep a tree alive for more than a few years. Credit: Laurie Campbell / WTML ... it can be another helpful to help with tree identification. Birch is deciduous tree that belongs to the family Betulaceae. #4lead The bark of the White Birch tree is white and easily peels in fine horizontal strips often with small black marks and scars. Paper birch is an easy tree to identify, with its white bark that tears in strips from the trunk. Vanessa Richins Myers is a seasoned horticulturist, garden writer and educator with 10+ years of experience in the horticulture and gardening space. Birches are fast-growing trees that can quickly provide benefit to your yard. The trunk is typically about 1 to 2 feet wide. The white bark of silver birch sheds in layers like tissue paper and becomes black and rugged at the base. The ornamental interest of Himalayan birch includes pretty spring flowers, rich yellow fall color, and bright white papery bark. It will grow in a variety of conditions, though it favors wet but well-drained sites with a rocky, nutrient-poor, acidic soil. The Paper Bark birch demonstrates some resistance to the bronze birch borer.Â. It does not tolerate shade well. Yellow birch, named for the color of its bark, is a relatively long-lived birch which typically grows 150 years and may even grow up to 300 years in old-growth forests. Birch species are generally small to medium-size trees or shrubs, mostly of temperate climates. It then develops dark grey/black ‘arrows and diamonds’ or horizontal streaks of grey in the case of downy birch. Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) is also known as white birch or canoe birch. Other names for this tree include bog birch and arctic birch. at breast height. It is a medium-sized tree with a single trunk that quickly branches out into a pyramid shape. These mushrooms, Piptoporus betulinus, are found almost exclusively on birch trees. This is the best maple tree bark identification characteristic you can find out there. To view each birch tree image in full size, just click on the photo you like to enlarge the tree picture.. Tree Types. By keeping your trees well pruned and free of damaged branches, you can greatly reduce the likelihood of infestation by bronze birch borer or other insects. Cherry birch is a large tree that grows from a single main trunk. Featuring an elegant, pyramidal habit, it bears ovate, toothed, lime-green leaves, 3 in. The beautiful bark and leaves make birches a common choice in landscaping, but they are relatively short-lived trees when compared to other hardwoods. However, the roots might head for your plumbing pipes if a large tree is planted too close to your house. The soft, yellowish- or reddish-white wood is commercially important in construction and in the manufacture of vehicles, furniture, and small articles such as spoons and snowshoes. Birch trees belong to the genus Betula and are classified as part of the Betulaceae family of plants. japonica 'Whitespire', Betula 'Penci-2' - Royal Frost ™, Betula utilis var. Paper birch, (Betula papyrifera), ornamental, shade, and timber tree of the family...…. Here are 11 common types of birch trees for your landscape. This is the classic birch tree use by Native Americans to make many useful products from footware to their famous birch-bark canoes. Others are trees that clump with multiple trunks. This tree grows best in medium to wet, well-drained, sandy or rocky loam. But birches still make excellent, fast-growing landscape specimens, provided you have realistic expectations. It may grow to a height of 15 m on light soils. Whilst Betula are mostly known for having white bark, we also offer newer varieties with blush, ginger, cream and red coloured bark. They now occupy most areas that were glaciated… One species of white birch, B. pubescens, is a tree about 18 m (60 feet) tall and is native to Eurasia. It has egg-shaped leaves, usually hairy below. This species, also known as Asian white birch, is a medium to large tree with white bark and thin spreading branches that terminate in drooping branchlets. Birch Tree. Other common names for this tree include western birch, red birch, river birch, black birch, and western red birch. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/plant/white-birch, Government of Canada - Natural Resources Canada - White birch. 3. European white birch trees have a slender trunk of perhaps a foot in width and noticeably drooping branches throughout its canopy. And others grow as classic single-trunk trees. Bog birch is a medium-sized, short-lived, clump-forming shrub that thrives in wet sites. Broadleaf trees have flowers that contain the reproductive organs, and … Scopri quale personaggio del cinema rappresenta la tua vera natura di fundraiser. This tree grows best in medium to wet, well-drained, sandy or rocky loam. It is one of the only truly heat-tolerant birches. It is a heartier and longer-lived tree in cooler climates. Omissions? Although it prefers full sun, the Japanese White Birch thrives in northern and eastern exposures that receivs some afternoon shade. It also is known as the canoe birch or white birch. Japanese White Birch. Other articles where European white birch is discussed: Fagales: Betulaceae: pendula (silver birches) and B. nana (dwarf birches) are circumboreal (i.e., extending to the northern limit of the tree line); the two species very nearly coincide in their ranges, with the dwarf birches extending farther into the Arctic. Like several other members of the birch familly, this birch performs best in cooler climate; with warmer zones causing increased susceptibility to birch borer insects. Some varieties grow in shrubby clusters. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Betula platyphylla, commonly called Japanese white birch, is a medium to large sized tree noted for its white bark, thin spreading branches and slightly pendant branchlets. Gray birch bark does not come off the tree without much difficulty. The Tree is a deciduous tree, it will be up to 25 m (82 ft) high. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. The trees are slender, with their trunks not normally exceeding a diameter of 40 cm. Paper birch (Betula papyrifera), also known by the common names of white birch and canoe birch, and trembling or quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) are popular landscaping trees across the United States.Both have white bark. The Black Birch is botanically called Betula lenta . 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