Paper Birch, Canoe Birch, White Birch
Betula papyrifera, commonly called paper birch or canoe birch, is a robust, fast-growing landscaping tree with a most attractive gleaming white bark, which peels off in papery strips to reveal an orange-brown bark underneath. Growing with an oval rounded habit, mature trees develop black markings on the white bark. The ovate, irregularly toothed, dark green leaves turn bright yellow in fall. In spring, tiny yellowish-brown male flowers appear in drooping catkins, while greenish female flowers appear in upright catkins. The female flowers give way to drooping cone-like fruits containing numerous small, winged seeds.
The paper birch received its name from the nature of its bark. Long ago, people would peel layers of the thin, paper-like bark and write on it to send messages. The common name of canoe birch comes from using the bark for making sleek, lightweight canoes among Native Americans and early fur trappers.
Exceptionally hardy, paper birch performs best in cool northern climates where root zones are often covered with snow in the winter and does poorly in the heat and humid areas. Betula papyrifera is one of the best-loved trees of the New England landscape (it is the state tree of New Hampshire), often planted for the beauty of its distinctive bark and golden fall color.
Hardiness |
2 - 7 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 7 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, A1, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Trees |
Plant Family | Betulaceae |
Genus | Betula |
Common names | Birch, Paper Birch, White Birch |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
Height |
50' - 70' (15.2m - 21.3m) |
Spread |
25' - 50' (7.6m - 15.2m) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northeast, Ohio, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Rocky Mountains, South Dakota, Southeast, Tennessee, United States, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
Tolerance | Drought, Deer |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |
Hardiness |
2 - 7 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 7 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, A1, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Trees |
Plant Family | Betulaceae |
Genus | Betula |
Common names | Birch, Paper Birch, White Birch |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
Height |
50' - 70' (15.2m - 21.3m) |
Spread |
25' - 50' (7.6m - 15.2m) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northeast, Ohio, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Rocky Mountains, South Dakota, Southeast, Tennessee, United States, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
Tolerance | Drought, Deer |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |
How many Betula papyrifera (Paper Birch) do I need for my garden?
Plant | Quantity | |
---|---|---|
Betula papyrifera (Paper Birch) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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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!