Birch tree with white bark
11 Common Species of Birch Trees
Identified by their unique bark, birch trees look lovely in the landscape.
By
Vanessa Richins Myers
Vanessa Richins Myers
Vanessa Richins Myers has a BS in horticulture and over 10 years of training and experience as a professional horticulturist and gardener.
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Updated on 07/29/22
Reviewed by
Andrew Hughes
Reviewed by Andrew Hughes
Andrew Hughes is a certified arborist and member of the International Society of Arborists specializing in tree heal care. He founded and runs Urban Loggers, LLC, a company offering residential tree services in the Midwest and Connecticut.
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The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Birch trees belong to the genus Betula and are classified as part of the Betulaceae family of plants. They are typically small to medium-sized trees and shrubs found in temperate zones across the Northern Hemisphere. Some varieties grow in shrubby clusters. Others are trees that clump with multiple trunks, and still more grow as classic single-trunk trees. Ask anyone what's special about a birch tree and its beautiful bark immediately comes to mind. Birches are a common choice in landscaping, but they are relatively short-lived trees when compared to other hardwoods, and many become damaged by insects and diseases.
Tip
Most birches are characterized by varicolored or white bark with papery plates, distinctive horizontal markings, and peeling layers; the appearance of the bark often is the feature that gives the species its common name.
Click Play to Learn About Common Species of Birch Trees
Most birch trees grow best in moist soil and they love full sun. However, the roots might head for your plumbing pipes if a large tree is planted too close to your house.
Do not let this deter you though; these are magnificent trees that are not hard to grow and should be a choice for your landscape. Birches are fast-growing trees that can quickly provide benefits to your yard.
Insect pests are most likely to strike a birch tree in areas where it is wounded or diseased. 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.
Here are 11 common types of birch trees to consider for your landscape and areas where they are typically grown in the United States and around the world.
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Bog Birch (Betula pumila)
Western Arctic National Parklands/Flickr/CC 2.
0 Bog birch is a medium-sized, short-lived, clump-forming shrub that thrives in wet sites. The plant tolerates occasional flooding, alkaline soil, clay soil, and road salt. When planted in residential landscapes, it grows well around bodies of water or in boggy areas. Bog birch is a good choice for rain gardens.
Other common names include swamp birch, glandular birch, dwarf birch, and resin birch.
- Native Area: North America
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 9
- Height: 5 to 10 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
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02 of 11
F. D. Richards / Flickr/ CC By 2.0River birch is an increasingly popular, fast-growing tree for the home landscape. It may grow either as a single-trunk tree or a multi-trunk clumping tree. It has distinctive salmon-pink to reddish-brown bark that exfoliates to reveal lighter inner bark providing year-round interest in the landscape. Dark green foliage turns a beautiful buttery yellow in the fall.
River birch has good resistance to the bronze birch borer. It is one of the only truly heat-tolerant birches. River birch may also be known as red birch, black birch, or water birch.
- Native Area: Eastern U.S.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
- Height: 40 to 70 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
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03 of 11
Cherry Birch (Betula lenta)
Stephen Robson / Getty Images
Cherry birch is a large tree that grows from a single main trunk. Shiny, red-brown bark and yellow foliage make this an attractive tree for lawns and naturalized areas. The bark on mature trees develops vertical cracks that form irregular scaly plates, closely resembling the bark of cherry trees. 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. This tree also attracts beautiful butterflies to the landscape and is resistant to the bronze birch borer which can devastate other species of birch.
Its broken twigs emit a spicy wintergreen fragrance and fermented sap is an ingredient used in birch beer. Regionally, the cherry birch may be called by other common names, including black birch, sweet birch, mahogany birch, Virginia roundleaf birch, or spice birch.
- Native Area: Eastern U.S., from Maine to northern Georgia
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
- Height: 40 to 70 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
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04 of 11
MAKY_OREL / Pixabay / CC By 0Betula nana is a small dwarf shrub, native to arctic and cool temperate regions, especially tundra landscapes. It will grow in a variety of conditions, though it favors wet but well-drained sites with a rocky, nutrient-poor, acidic soil. It does not tolerate shade well. The dwarf birch is rarely planted in landscapes, but it is important to cover vegetation in cold northern territories.
Other names for this tree include bog birch and arctic birch.
- Native Areas: Greenland, Iceland, northern Europe, northern Asia, and northern North America
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 1 to 8
- Height: 6 inches to 3 feet tall
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
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05 of 11
Eerik / Getty Images
The silver birch has an attractive pendulous habit and distinctive white bark that peels away in papery strips. It grows as a single-trunk tree that gradually transforms from pyramidal in shape to a more rounded, oval crown. Also known as weeping birch or European white birch, the silver birch was once used extensively in landscapes, but its high susceptibility to the bronze birch borer has limited its use in more recent years.
- Native Area: Europe, Asia
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 7; can be grown in 8 and 9 but will have a shorter life
- Height: 40 to 80 feet, depending on cultivar
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
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John Lord / Flickr / CC By 2.
0 The ornamental interest of Himalayan birch includes pretty spring flowers, rich yellow fall color, and bright white papery bark. It is a medium-sized tree with a single trunk that quickly branches out into a pyramid shape. This birch species is very vulnerable to damage by the bronze birch borer and usually requires removal and/or replacement, especially in warmer zones. It is a heartier and longer-lived tree in cooler climates.
This tree has other common names, including white-barked Himalayan birch and jacquemonti birch.
- Native Area: West Himalayas, Nepal
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 7
- Height: 30 to 50 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun; can take some light shade
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07 of 11
Japanese White Birch (Betula platyphylla 'Japanica')
View Photos/a.collectionRF / Getty ImagesThis 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.
This tree grows best in medium to wet, well-drained, sandy, or rocky loam. Although it prefers full sun, the Japanese white birch thrives in northern and eastern exposures that receive some afternoon shade. The main requirement is a consistently moist soil. Like several other members of the birch family, this birch performs best in cooler climates; with warmer zones causing increased susceptibility to birch borer insects. - Native Area: Manchuria, Korea, Japan
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
- Height: 40 to 50 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
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08 of 11
Plant Image Library / Flickr / CC By 2.0Primarily native to Alaska, Canada, and northern U.S. states, this tree has lovely white bark and yellow fall color. It can grow either as a single-trunk tree or in small clumps with multiple trunks. Paper bark birch is so-named due to the thin white bark which often peels in paper-like layers from the trunk.
It also is known as the canoe birch or white birch. This is the classic birch tree historically used to make many useful products from footwear to birch-bark canoes. Buds, catkins, and leaves along with twigs and bark are a source of food for birds and other wildlife. The paper bark birch demonstrates some resistance to the bronze birch borer. - Native Area: Northern North America
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 7
- Height: 45 to 100 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to light shade
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09 of 11
Weeping Birches (Betula pendula var.)
Ron Evans / Getty Images
Trees known as weeping birches generally are different naturally-occurring or cultivated varieties of silver birch (Betula pendula), described above. Exact details such as growing zones and height will depend on the particular variety.
Common varieties include:
- Curly birch (B.
pendula 'Carelica') - Cutleaf weeping European birch (B. pendula 'Gracilis')
- Golden cloud weeping birch (B. pendula 'Golden Cloud')
- Purple weeping birch (B. pendula 'Purpurea')
- Swedish birch (B. pendula 'Dalecarlica' or 'Laciniata')
- Tristis weeping birch (B. pendula 'Tristis')
- Young's weeping birch (B. pendula 'Youngii') (pictured)
- Curly birch (B.
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Water Birch (Betula occidentalis or Betula fontinalis)
Thayne Tuason / Wikimedia Commons / CC By 4.0
Water birch typically occurs along streams in mountainous regions, where it grows in dense thickets. The bark is dark red-brown to blackish, and smooth. Unlike other birch trees, its bark does not peel. This tree is a source of food and lodge material for the common North American beaver.
Other common names for this tree include western birch, red birch, river birch, black birch, and western red birch.
- Native Area: Western North America, mountainous regions
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
- Height: Shrubby form can grow 25 feet tall; as a tree, to 40 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
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11 of 11
Cora Niele / Getty ImagesYellow birch, named for the color of its bark, is a relatively long-lived birch that typically grows for 150 years and may even age to 300 years in old-growth forests. It is a single-stemmed tree with yellow-bronze bark that peels in narrow horizontal strips. This is an important species to the North American lumber industry and a major woodland food source for birds and wildlife.
Yellow birch may be known regionally as swamp birch, curly birch, gold birch, or hard birch.
- Native Area: Northeastern North America
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
- Height: 50 to 80 feet
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
The various species of birch trees in the Betula genus include at least these 11 that are important landscape trees.
Birch trees offer interesting bark color and texture and attractive foliage, but they are relatively short-lived and they are prone to suffer from diseases and insects, especially the bronze birch borer. But birches still make excellent, fast-growing landscape specimens, provided you have realistic expectations.
6 Birch Trees with Gorgeous Fall Foliage
Article Sources
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bog Birch. The Morton Arboretum.
The Bronze Birch Borer and Its Management. University of Minnesota Extension Service.
The 6 Best White Bark Trees That Look Great All Year
Photo: istockphoto.com
Often, trees are selected and grown for their foliage, fruit, or flowers—seasonal features that blossom and fade over several months.
However, it’s not impossible to find deciduous trees (those with leaves that drop over the winter) capable of delivering beauty year-round. The key is to narrow your search to trees with white bark. Even in winter months, when barren, uniquely alabaster branches offer a striking contrast against dark siding, a backdrop of evergreens, or even against the winter sky.
While trees with white bark are not rare, they’re not as common as other trees for two reasons: Certain varieties require particular growing climates, while others are subject to disease and insect infestation. Before choosing a tree, make sure it’s suitable for your geographic region by consulting the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which indicates the coldest average winter temperatures by region.
Keep in mind that some white trees have additional geographical requirements on top of hardiness zones, such as altitude limitations, so do your homework to determine which trees to grow and which trees to avoid. The following six types of trees are among those most commonly chosen for the beauty of their white bark.
While their growing ranges are limited in scope, the following trees thrive in specific regions and under particular growing conditions. Planting a white bark tree will add visual interest to the landscape and help increase the property’s value.
Photo: istockphoto.com
1. Himalayan Birch (Betula utilis)You may be familiar with some species of birch that have beige or brown bark, but a select few species of Himalayan birch (Betula utilis var. jacquemontii) feature creamy white trunks and limbs. Native to the Himalayan region, these birch trees prefer cool, well-drained soil and full-to-partial sun exposure. These birch varieties grow best in zones 1 through 7, although areas where summer temps regularly exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit can be detrimental to their growth. If you live in northern areas of the contiguous United States, Canada, or Alaska, check out the following trees with white bark—though very similar, each has a few unique qualities.
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- Doorenbos (Betula utilis var. jacquemontii, ‘Doorenbos’) grows up to two feet per year to reach a mature height of 40 to 50 feet with a 30-foot crown spread. Doorenbos features peeling white bark that falls away to reveal light orange under-bark. The under-bark turns white soon after the surface layer falls off, and the shedding of its bark is an ongoing process. Brown trailing flowers, known as “catkins,” appear in spring, followed by dark green leaves that turn yellow-gold in the fall before dropping.
- Jermyns (Betula utilis var. jacquemontii, ‘Jermyns’), another peeling-bark Himalayan birch, grows about two feet per year until it reaches a mature height of 30 to 35 feet with a crown spread of 20 to 25 feet. Slightly smaller than other Himalayan birch trees, Jermyns is well-suited to smaller yards. The tree forms long brown catkin blooms in spring, followed by heavily ribbed green leaves that turn soft yellow in autumn.
- Grayswood Ghost (Betula utilis var. jacquemontii, ‘Grayswood Ghost‘) reaches 30 to 50 feet at maturity with a 30-foot crown spread. Grayswood Ghost is a fast grower, gaining up to three feet per year, and its bark is smooth and non-peeling. Expect brown bark on young Grayswood Ghost until the tree is about eight years old; by then, its bark gradually turns stark white. Like other Himalayan birch trees, it develops catkins in spring, followed by green leaves that turn a mellow yellow shade in fall.
- Silver Shadow (Betula utilis var. jacquemontii, ‘Silver Shadow‘), a slightly slower grower, will climb one to two feet per year to reach a mature height of 35 to 45 feet and a crown spread of 20 feet. Like Grayswood Ghost, its bark is non-peeling, and it features brown catkins in spring and soft yellow autumn foliage.
While the trees, themselves, love full sun, the ground around their roots should be shaded. This can be accomplished by adding a layer of hardwood bark mulch around the trunk.
Additionally, Himalayan birch trees are prone to infestation by sawflies and aphids, and they can develop diseases, such as rust and leaf spot. For the best results, have the tree checked annually by a tree professional (arborist) and treated as necessary to keep it in top health.
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Photo: istockphoto.com
2. American Aspen (Populus tremuloides)For fans of colorful autumn foliage, nothing beats the brilliant gold and orange show put on by a grove of Aspen trees on the side of a forested mountain. The American Aspen (Populus tremuloides), also known as “quaking aspen” or “trembling aspen,” produces a smooth–bark white tree trunk that can reach 80 feet at maturity with a narrow crown spread of only 20 feet. American Aspen’s striking white bark will develop contrasting black markings as it matures, which add to its visual interest. In optimal conditions, American Aspen is a quick grower, growing as much as four feet per year.
This soaring tree grows best in zones 2 through 7, and while it likes full sun, it doesn’t care for summer temperatures that regularly exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It also will not abide low elevations: American Aspen rarely grows at elevations less than 2,000 feet, and grows best at elevations between 5,000 to 12,000 feet. By entering your city and state on this interactive elevation map, you can determine if an American Aspen is suitable for your area. (Bonus points if you’re in the right elevation range and located near banks and streams, as these trees with white bark thrive with plenty of water and well-drained soil.)
With its tall, lean stature, American Aspen is well-suited to growing in clumps, and when planted three to five inches apart will produce a multi-trunk effect. It’s just as attractive when planted individually along fences and property lines, or anywhere else a statuesque border is desired. Aspens spread by root shoots, so a few clumps of aspen could become a spectacular grove in 15 to 20 years.
Photo: istockphoto.com
3. American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)Reaching an average height of 100 feet at maturity with a similarly wide crown spread, the white bark American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is a dramatic addition to a large landscape. It grows well in zones 4 through 9, averaging two to two-and-a-half feet of growth per year. It produces insignificant yellow-red flowers in spring that give way to large green leaves (up to nine inches wide) in summer. Brownish non-edible fruit balls develop in summer and eventually dry out, bursting open to release downy seeds. Its mottled white bark, which starts out brown and turns creamy white after 10 to 12 years, makes it a favorite in the winter landscape.
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Due to its large size—the average mature trunk measures three to eight feet in diameter but has been known to reach as wide as 16 feet—it needs plenty of room to grow. Historically, the trunk of this tree with white bark was favored by Native Americans who would hollow it out for canoes.
American sycamore is best suited as a single specimen tree in a large area where it can reach its full growth potential. It thrives in well-drained, moist soil that’s high in organic matter. The largest American sycamore specimens are found along waterways, so plant this tree near a pond or stream for the best results. While American sycamore prefers a location where it receives full sun, it will tolerate light shade.
Photo: istockphoto.com
4. Ghost Gum (Corymbia aparrerinja)If you live in zones 9 and 10 and are looking for a fast-growing, white bark tree that won’t lose its foliage during the winter months, consider planting a Ghost Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora). Native to Australia, the Ghost Gum, also called “snow gum” and “white sallee,” has made a name for itself in warmer regions of the US. With its ability to grow up to three feet per year, it doesn’t take Ghost Gum long to become a specimen in the landscape.
It reaches 45 to 50 feet in height with a crown spread of 25 to 30 feet at maturity.
In addition to its creamy colored smooth bark, Ghost Gum features attractive gnarled branches, and the tree emits a faint but distinct aroma of eucalyptus. From October through December, Ghost Gum blossoms cover the tree in an explosion of delicate white flowers that offer a striking contrast against its deep green waxy leaves.
This variety grows in all types of soil, won’t mind drought, and flourishes in full sun (although it will tolerate partial shade). Perhaps unsurprisingly, it also thrives in salty coastal regions. Its rapid growth rate and tough demeanor—resistant to smog, insects, and diseases—also make it a good choice for planting in urban neighborhoods. It grows well in various soil types—from loamy to sandy but is susceptible to damage from beetle borers and root rot. Ghost Gum makes an excellent single specimen tree but is just as attractive when planted in groups of three or more.
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Photo: istockphoto.com
5. White Poplar (Populus alba)Native to Europe and Central Asia, White popular is now grown in many countries, including zones 3 to 8 in the United States, where can become a remarkable focal point in the landscape.
White popular produces silvery-green foliage, and at maturity, it reaches 50-75 feet, with a crown spread of up to 75 feet, making it well-suited for growing on large open lots.
The bark on white poplar produces a light green tinge when the tree is young but will mature to a white base with contrasting black patches and dark furrowed ridges. White poplar needs a sunny location with at least 6 hours of direct sun per day, and it prefers well-drained soil. However, it is tolerant of high moisture levels and will even withstand occasional flooding conditions.
An attractive specimen in the winter landscape, the tree is popular with nesting songbirds and squirrels. For all its positives, although, white poplar is not without challenges. The tree propagates itself quickly through sucker growth, so surrounding grounds should be carefully maintained to keep new suckers from growing.
6. European Poplar (Populus tremula)Photo: istockphoto.com
Related to American aspen and grown for its silvery-white bark that’s delightfully interspersed with patches of golden yellow, European poplar is commonly found in New England.
It will survive as far north as USDA zone 2. Its bark remains smooth its entire life and the tree is often harvested for use as a veneer on high-quality wood furniture.
European popular grows quite tall, reaching 130 feet and producing a dense crown spread of up to 33 feet. The trunk base itself can reach 3 feet in diameter at maturity, making the tree well-suited to large lots and parks where its shimmery foliage can be enjoyed in summer and its stark white bark admired in winter.
The European poplar does best in a sunny location and thrives in moist but well-drained soil. It can be planted as a single specimen tree or in groupings of three or more in borders or privacy screens.
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FAQ About Trees with White BarkWhite bark trees are alluring and beautiful in the winter landscape when their trunks and branches provide a stark contrast against buildings and gray skies. For those looking to incorporate the beauty of white bark trees in the landscape, some questions are to be expected.
Among the most common types of white bark trees are varieties of aspen, birch, poplar, sycamore, and gum species.
What kind of tree has bark that looks like paper?A type of birch, paper birch (Betula papyrifera), produces peeling white bark that resembles sheets of paper flaking off the trunk and branches.
What is the tree with large white flowers?Several trees produce large white flowers in spring, with two of the most common being Southern Magnolia and White Dogwood.
What does a white poplar tree look like?Also called “Silver Poplar,” the white poplar grows as tall as 75 feet with a crown spread just as large. At maturity, its white bark develops contrasting black ridges that offer a visually interesting design element in the landscape.
Final ThoughtsWhile most deciduous trees can be quite dull in the winter landscape, with their brownish-gray trunks and branches, white bark trees produce a stark contrast against houses, buildings, and gray skies.
However, getting the right one requires researching the species to ensure it will thrive in a specific region.
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Why are birches white?
Firstly, the white color itself does not give any advantages to the tree and does not allow pests to be repelled. It would be strange if all pests for some reason avoided objects of a certain color. Trees are bleached - covered with lime - for two reasons: firstly, in spring it helps to avoid too early heating of the bark. Warming springs are often replaced by frosts, and the outer layer of the crust can either expand or contract back under the influence of temperature changes. This is harmful for the bark, because of sharp expansions and contractions, it deteriorates and exfoliates. And the layer of lime reflects the light and keeps the bark from getting too hot until it finally warms up. nine0003
In addition, the trees are covered with lime in autumn. This is done, indeed, to control pests that are trying to settle in trees for the winter.
But even in this case, lime is used not to scare off parasites with its color, but to burn out those pests that have already settled in the bark, due to the alkaline environment of the solution.
In general, the white color of birches does not give them any special advantages, otherwise there would be more white trees. Nevertheless, white is quite common in nature and is used, for example, to attract the attention of pollinators to flowers or to camouflage animals in winter. Usually, the white color is created not due to white pigment, but due to air voids between the cells of the body. For example, white flower petals are made up of transparent cells that do not contain any special pigments. But between these transparent cells there are voids filled with air, due to which the petal appears white. For the same reasons, a snowdrift, consisting of individual transparent snowflakes, looks white. nine0003
This way of producing white is however not suitable for tree bark, which must be dense to be protective.
Therefore, the bark is white only in birches - owners of a rare white pigment called betulin. The more of this pigment is contained in the bark of a tree, the lighter it looks. It is not yet completely clear why birches need betulin. It has many interesting functions, including fungicidal. So, most likely, betulin is formed in the bark of birches to protect the bark from fungi, and these trees get the white color as a free supplement. nine0003
Betulin, besides birches, only a small number of plants have, but this does not mean that other plants have not invented other ways to take care of themselves. Indeed, in addition to betulin, plants produce a huge range of protective substances that act on fungi, protozoa, and bacteria, for example, the famous phytoncides, which are rich in onions and garlic. Poisons that protect plants from herbivores are also common, such as castor bean ricin and henbane atropine. In general, plants have invented many different ways to fend for themselves, and birch betulin is just one of them.
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Other interesting features of betulin include its ability to trigger cell apoptosis in some types of tumors, reduce the size of atherosclerotic plaques, and promote weight loss in obese people. Hundreds of scientific papers have been devoted to studies of the properties of betulin useful for medicine. So the white color of birch trees is not the only interesting consequence of the attempts of these trees to protect themselves from fungal infections.
Answered: Yulia Kondratenko
Why does birch have white bark?
Author:
AccheDin
May 25, 2021 09:18
Tags: birch tree interesting bark facts photos
Why did the tree need such coloring?
A source: nine0003
The living symbol of our country attracts attention with its white bark.
Not all types of birches are white. There are birches with both gray and brown bark. But those that mainly grow in Russia are pleasing to the eye with light trunks.
Why do most birches have white bark?
Secret component
The little secret of Russian birch bark was discovered more than two hundred years ago by a talented scientist Tobias Lovitz. He managed to isolate a substance from the bark of this tree, which he called betulin, by analogy with the Latin name for birch "betula". This substance in a resinous form fills the intercellular space of the birch bark. Because of this, its top layer looks white. Betulin in birch bark can be up to 44%. In its resinous form, it does not pass water and air well, therefore, with the content of such a substance in the birch bark, they had to “suffocate”. Therefore, black dashes stand out against the background of the white bark. They serve the Russian birch with pores that allow water and air to pass through the bark filled with betulin.
nine0003
But why did white birches with betulin in their bark spread among all birch species?
Two in one
This resinous substance has a double function for birch.
There are a lot of silver ions in betulin. This element has an excellent fungicidal and antibacterial agent. The birch bark releases it into the air. Therefore, this tree turned out to be more resistant to many diseases that other tree species are susceptible to. Contrary to everyday beliefs, pests are not deterred by the white color itself, but by the smell of resinous betulin, which reduces the possibility of reproduction of pathogenic creatures. nine0003
A source:
The white color was only a "side effect" of the concentration of betulin in the bark.
It is this property that was intuitively noticed by folk medicine, which uses birch in various forms as a remedy for colds, inflammations, weakness, etc.
