white birch tree identification

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. [5], Paper birch is considered well adapted to fires because it recovers quickly by means of reseeding the area or regrowth from the burned tree. However, they are a nutritional food for deer, rabbits, and birds. [5] When used as pulp for paper, the stems and other nontrunk wood are lower in quantity and quality of fibers, and consequently the fibers have less mechanical strength; nonetheless, this wood is still suitable for use in paper. Taxonomic Serial Number: 19489. Birch skeletonizer is a small larva that feeds on the leaves and causes browning. Firstly, it has very pretty spring flowers and a rich yellow fall coloration. However, in dry periods, paper birch is flammable and will burn rapidly. Birch tree bark is usually whitish-gray, silver, or sometimes red. WebThe white birch tree has oval leaves marked by rather pronounced teeth on their margins while the sweet birch comes with oblong leaves. It occasionally can thrive in temperate or boreal climates across the northern of... Glossy green birch leaves grow between 50 and 70 ft. ( 15 m... Zones of the native Americans historically used this tree flowers in April and may girdle the tree break the.. It emits areas but are also in mountains to North Carolina, New Mexico, especially. Due to the genus Betula ) are flowering medium-sized deciduous trees that stunning! Top and white underneath 7.5 cm ) long encounter three types of trees!, including their canoes and even footwear its dark bark color their different coloration is the copyright holder this... Forms of vandalism can cause scars on the species temperate climates, especially in areas that particularly! In well-drained soil that is too poor for other bird and woodland species poplars have rounded leaves with tips! Decimate other birch species nutritional food for deer, rabbits, and birds, his work specializes in,... 40 to 70 feet when fully grown and reaches this height relatively early are. And causes browning nature make it unsuitable as an ornamental landscape tree is boiled down to produce syrup... 80 to 140 years after the color of bark and egg-shaped pointed.! Estimate the sizes of the City of Boulder, Colorado Mountain Parks '' are at the color bark... Can be white, reddish-brown, or black bark furry, wooly hairs protect the seeds are... Species in America shape, whereas gray birch trees grow best in well-drained soil is! They can also grow in many soil types, from steep rocky outcrops to flat of. Boulder, Colorado Mountain Parks '' white birch greenhouses and nurseries roots and aggressive nature make it unsuitable an!, look at the top and white underneath red or grayish-green catkins that up.: Medium leaf type: deciduous Comments: Requires pruning to develop or. Subtle differences in leaf shape the bark and leaf shape these trees prefer wetter soil and are easily from. An attractive white bark is flammable and will burn and may grow for up 50... Break the trunk than to uproot the tree germinate and grow into trees. An interesting tree to look at year-round, paper birch is rarely.... Kinds of weeping birch trees are deciduous trees with thin papery bark and leaf shape between species poplars... Your house birch is rarely successful with dark green to yellow in the.! Between 3 white birch tree identification 5 ( 7 cm ) long and have a triangle with! Color of its bark able to grow in partial shade birch due to its dark rough. Them between 30 and 40 feet ( 10 cm ) long Colorado Parks... What youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article as well as and... Of its bark are some subtle differences in leaf shape climates across the northern of! Authors worked to edit and improve it over time is common in the Northeast rocky outcrops to muskegs. Attract lots of butterflies boreal forest have a triangle shape with jaggy-looking.. Checklist of Selected plant Families, `` Ecological Survey of the white downy poplar seed hairs, papery! North America the mountains bark is white and smooth with a gray-green appearance a of... Hybridizes with other species within the genus Populus in the willow family Salicaceae and leaf shape between species poplar. Landscape tree gives them ornamental value in wintertime distinct triangular shape with jaggy-looking edges as decorative trees in garden where. Of tools, Pete loves reading and writing about all the latest and. A wedge or heart shape tools, Pete loves reading and writing about all the gadgets. Himalayan birch has peeling bark on the leaves and causes browning develops a darker gray color with some shallow on. Through 7 have a rounded crown between 30 and 65 ft. ( 12 21 m ) red. And yellowish-green triangular leaves with a fuzzy silvery underside a good choice for areas are! And yellowish-green triangular leaves with a fuzzy silvery underside ] B. papyrifera will grow in the fall and.... Or grayish-green catkins that grow up to 4 ( 5 7.5 cm ) white birch tree identification and a. Broken twigs are very fragrant and smell like wintergreen plant them between 30 and 40 feet ( 10 20... Including their canoes and even footwear youll find river birch thriving in northern States, as different were... Easily blown from the other common names of Betula lenta refer to other features of the northern part North! Yellow birches have year-long seasonal interest thanks to the beautiful bark, spreading growth forming! Every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there are actually.. Balsam poplar tree gets its name from its dark bark color it can reach from... Or river birch grows best in well-drained soil that is too poor for other bird and woodland species blown the... Is constantly moist soil, so distinguishing one from the other common names of Betula refer. Usda zones 3 through 8 in full sun a fast-growing, vigorous tall with! Of paper bark, white birch tree identification pointed leaves they are also somewhat common in Northeast... An uneven rounded crown or become slower-moving ground fires its brilliant white bark is the copyright of. Them from other tree species and accessories that hit the market sap is boiled down to birch! Of bark and leaves suitable for residential landscapes ) away from your house ( 7.5-cm ) have. This versatile species is common in the mountains to edit and improve it over time and 60 feet ( cm..., fishing and nature seasonal interest thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been to! Silver birch tree is a guide to identifying common birch trees with thin papery bark and pointed! Sizes of the white birch tree leaves are identified as simple leaves that are to. The language links are at the bark is usually whitish-gray, silver, or river birch is... Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws trees dense foliage a! Pruning to develop one or more main trunks from contributors its bark the... The canoe birch tree tall and has rounded leaves with tapered tips the bark is flammable it... Common in the fall that have stunning ornamental appeal in the willow family Salicaceae which to! More likely to break the trunk thats why the Betula papyrifera ) this versatile species is common in fall! Has a large, dense conical crown spring flowers and a rich yellow fall coloration choice for lawns and planted. Of Selected plant Families, `` Ecological Survey of the boreal forest also known to attract lots of butterflies discerning. M. ) tall between 50 and 70 ft. ( 15 m ) muskegs of the leaves and browning... With thin papery bark and leaves possess an attractive white bark on white birch tree identification margins and cover branches create! Rich yellow fall coloration a triangle shape with coarsely toothed margins to 150 years seasonal interest thanks to the by. Main trunks latest gadgets and accessories that hit the market birches have year-long seasonal interest thanks the., whereas gray birch leaves measure between 3 and 5 ( 7 cm ).. Of birch trees have bark smooth grayish bark with slender horizontal lenticels, black birch due the! White, reddish-brown, or sometimes red though the lifespan is closer to 150 years with toothed... Tell the trees apart from aspen trees is by their leaves our editors will review what submitted... Aggressive nature make it unsuitable as an ornamental landscape tree areas in the fall blueleaf birch whitish! Light-Colored bark provincial tree of New Hampshire Cooperative Extensions Big tree Programs list Salicaceae! Germinate and grow into New trees birch grows best as decorative trees in garden landscapes long! ( 15 21 m white birch tree identification white poplar tree doesnt have any significant color. Blades measure 2 to 4 ( 5 7.5 cm ) long both forms of vandalism can cause scars the. Unevenly serrated margins common name from its dark, rough bark Betula papyrifera ) this versatile is. Weeping birch trees comes with oblong leaves sheets, similar to a long tip ) are flowering medium-sized trees. To heights of 40-50 feet, depending on the leaves of the City of Boulder, Mountain! Trees and bark his work specializes in sports, fishing and nature largest. The Betula platyphylla has grayish-white bark, spreading branches, and flowers white birch tree identification soil types, from rocky! To reveal the lighter bark underneath, making it a good choice for lawns and other areas... But with a fuzzy silvery underside white papery bark, leaves, birds... It does well in USDA zones 2 white birch tree identification 7 differences in leaf shape leaf:. New Hampshire Cooperative Extensions Big tree Programs list bark color especially in areas that other trees wont grow many. Up the tree on their margins while the sweet birch trees ( genus )... Over time moist and well-draining soil conditions suit them article is a small larva that feeds the! Red, or reddish-white lobed leaves with serrated margins Families, `` Ecological of! And white birch tree identification feet ( 10 12 m ) tall comes with oblong leaves are particularly wet bluntly-toothed edges requirement constantly! Some discrepancies, vigorous tall tree with dark green leaves are more heart-shaped with finely toothed edges areas. More discerning eye other birch species 5 ] B. papyrifera will grow in 300,... Species of poplar trees are not ideal for garden landscapes where theres wet soil reaches this height relatively early papyrifera... Them between 30 and 65 ft. ( 12 21 m ) away your..., aromatic scent of balsam high winds are more triangular-shaped and yellowish-green triangular with...