Alphabetical Plant Listing

Betula alleghaniensis (Yellow Birch)

Yellow Birch, Gray Birch, Swamp Birch, Silver Birch, Betula alleghaniensis var. fallax, Betula lutea


One of the most valuable birches, Betula alleghaniensis (Yellow Birch) is a slender deciduous tree of conical habit in youth, becoming rounded with age. Its branches are covered with ovate, dark green leaves, 3-5 in. long (7-12 cm). The foliage turns brilliant golden yellow in fall. Tiny inconspicuous flowers appear in spring before the leaves unfurl. They are held in hanging catkins (male flowers) or in upright catkins (female flowers). They provide pollen for bees and other insect pollinators. Yellow Birch gives off a heady aroma of wintergreen when leaves, shoots, or bark are crushed. The bark is a polished brown or bronze, with thin, papery, shaggy shreds on young trees, becoming gray-brown and breaking into large, ragged-edged plates with age. Yellow Birch is a wonderful plant for wildlife. It attracts caterpillars and provides food for migrating birds in spring and fall. Attractive in all seasons, this superb eastern North American native is an excellent specimen tree and is also useful for lawns and naturalized areas. Trees planted in a grove fashion form a beautiful, natural effect. Slow-growing and long-lived (approximately 150 years), Yellow Birch performs best in cooler climates.

  • Grows up to 60-80 ft. tall and wide (18-24 m).
  • Performs best in full sun to part shade in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions including wet soils.
  • Perfect as a specimen plant, in cottage gardens, or wildlife gardens.
  • Low maintenance, this plant needs little pruning. If pruning is necessary, prune during the dormant season (when the sap has stopped flowing) from late summer to before mid-winter.
  • Yellow Birch shows some resistance to bronze birch borer,& a severe problem for many of the white-barked species. Keep an eye out for birch leaf-mining sawfly, aphids, honey fungus, mildew, and birch rust.
  • Propagate by root softwood cuttings in summer, or propagate by grafting in winter.
  • Native to northeastern North America.

Not sure which Betula - Birches to pick?
Compare All Betula - Birches

Buy Betula alleghaniensis (Yellow Birch)

Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 7
Heat Zones 1 – 7
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Betula - Birches
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 60' – 80' (18m – 24m)
Spread 60' – 80' (18m – 24m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Tolerance Wet Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Buy Plants

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Betula - Birches

Guides with Betula - Birches


Malachi Jacobs, Andrianova Tanya, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 7
Heat Zones 1 – 7
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Betula - Birches
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 60' – 80' (18m – 24m)
Spread 60' – 80' (18m – 24m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Tolerance Wet Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Betula - Birches

Guides with Betula - Birches

Plant Calculator

How many Betula alleghaniensis (Yellow Birch) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Betula alleghaniensis (Yellow Birch)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.