The many species of Birch Trees - Betula species Birches are graceful and elegant trees, often used in the landscape because of their attractive bark and small leaves, that flutter in the slightest breeze. There are actually many different species of Birch trees and not all of them have white bark. Birches can be divided into two kinds, the white bark birches and the dark bark birches.

The native dark bark birches are:

Betula alleghaniensis (Betula lutea) - Yellow Bark Birch

Mature height to about 30'-70'. Native to south-eastern Canada, the northern US to the Lake States, south to the Appalachians. Rarely sold in nurseries or garden centers. They are of high commercial value for their hard, strong, close grain wood which is often used for interior finishes, veneers and tool handles. The bark is reddish brown turning dull, yellow/ brown and flaky. A slow growing but long lived birch (to about 200 years.) Needs a moist but well drained site, excellent for parks or in mass plantings. Ornamentally, they would be a good choice for naturalizing (in areas to which they are native.)

Betula Lenta - Sweet Birch, Cherry Birch

Mature height to about 60'. Native to southern Maine, Southern Quebec and Ontario from Ohio to Long Island NY, south to Northern Alabama and Georgia. May be hard to find in nurseries or garden centers but it is of high commercial value for lumber. When the strong, hard wood is exposed to air it deepens in color and is sometimes passed off for mahogany. Cherry Birch is a source of wintergreen oil and a beer can be made from the sap in late winter by allowing the sap to ferment with corn. Fast growing and short lived (to about 100 years.) Not bad for a tree considered to be short lived. The bark is dark red to black becoming grey with age. The bark is actually very attractive, it is somewhat similar to the River Birch. This birch needs a moist but well drained site and is a used often in parks and for mass plantings.

Betula Nigra- Red Birch, Black Birch, River Birch

Mature height to about 50'-80'. Bark is dark, shaggy, red brown to a silvery grey with age. Native from southern New Hampshire to Northern Florida to eastern Texas, Oklahoma north to southern Wisconsin. River birch can almost always be found in nurseries and garden centers, it is the only birch that is adaptable to moist, wet soils like those found along streams, ponds, swamps, river banks and on low bottom land. It is also highly adaptable to drier soils, once established. It is also one of the few birches that is highly resistant to the deadly bronze birch borer which kills so many white bark birches at a early age. It is of little economical value as lumber because it has many knots in the trunk due to its numerous branches but is highly regarded as a landscape ornamental.

Betula nigra cultivars:

Betula nigra 'Heritage'

This patented cultivar of the River Birch was introduced by Mr. Earl Cully of Illinois, it is much faster growing than the species with larger, shiny dark green leaves and supposedly less susceptible to leaf spot disease. The bark also begins to exfoliate at a much earlier age, noticeable on young trunks with 1" caliper or slightly more. The bark of young trees flakes open to a white to salmon-white inner bark, eventually turning salmon-brown with age.

Betula nigra 'Little King' (Fox Valley)

This is a dwarf cultivar of the River Birch and relatively new. Only growing to 8'-10', it is a great tree for those that love river birch, but only have a small area in which to plant. Similar to the species in all other respects.

Betula occidentalis - Water Birch

A shrubby, tree-like birch to 40', less under cultivation. Native to the Rocky Mountains and most of the forested areas of western Canada. This birch as it ages has very attractive shiny, reddish-brown bark that does not exfoliate or peel, but on young trees the bark is almost black. Commonly found where it is wet such as along streams and rivers. Very little ornamental or commercial value and locally it is generally used for fence posts or firewood. Hardy to zone 4.

Betula uber- Ashe's Birch.

The bark is dark red to black and native to only one county in Virginia. This birch was considered to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1975. Very little is known and I have yet to find much information on this birch, other than it is a small tree to about 25' and in all other aspects similar to other birches. The bark and branches when cut, have a wintergreen fragrance.

The native white bark birches are:

Betula papyrifera Paper Birch, Canoe Birch

Mature height to about 80'. Native to the Northern States and Canada. Bark is reddish brown on young trees turning to a creamy white, readily peeling to expose a reddish orange inner bark. The wood is strong and hard and used for veneer. It is also widely known for it's use on birch bark canoes. The bark is stretched over a framework of cedar, stitched together and sealed with white pine resin. The sap from this birch can also be collected and boiled down for syrup. This birch can sometimes be found in nurseries or garden centers but other more borer resistant varieties may have taken its place. Prefers a moist but well drained site, sheltered by other trees. An excellent tree for ornamental use either as a specimen or in mass plantings.

Betula populifolia - Grey Birch, Poplar Birch

A small tree to about 30'-35'. Native to the Northeastern states, mostly the Atlantic seaboard, from southeastern Canada to Virginia, but also found as far west as Indiana. The smooth, non-peeling bark is reddish brown turning a dull gray to chalky white. The wood is light, soft and weak and mainly used for firewood. I doubt you would find this one in the garden center since the trees are short lived and uproot very easily from wet, heavy snows because of their shallow root system. Prefers poor, sterile soils, sandy or gravely and will reproduce abundantly in these areas. Used on areas of reclamation such as strip mines or for naturalizing.

Other white bark birch and their origins.

Betula pendula - European White Birch

Mature height to about 50'. Native to Europe from Italy to the Arctic Circle. At one time this was the most widely planted white bark birch in North America and could be found in most any garden center or nursery, but this species is highly susceptible to the bronze birch borer. This birch has white peeling bark but as the tree matures the bark tends to become a dull white and has a somewhat dingy appearance. Grows well in most any soil except, very wet ones. Useful as a specimen or in a mass planting. Very tolerant of urban conditions.

Popular Betula pendula cultivars:

Betula pendula 'Dalecarlica' - Cutleaf Weeping European White Birch or Swedish Birch

Similar to the species, but with branches and leaves naturally pendulous. Leaves are about 3" long and finely dissected, much like that of the cutleaf Japanese maples.

Betula pendula var. crispa ( 'Laciniata') - Cutleaf Weeping European White Birch

Similar to 'Dalecarlica', but with leaves that are 2" long and not as deeply dissected.

Betula pendula 'Fastigiata' - Upright or Columnar European White Birch

A columnar form, similar in appearance to lombardy poplar.

Betula pendula 'Gracilis' - Cutleaf European White Birch

A small, slender weeping birch to about 20' that does not maintain a central leader. Branches are pendulous and the foliage is deeply dissected, more finer and deeply cut than 'dalecarlica'. A very beautiful and unique growing tree.

Betula pendula 'Purple Rain' - Purple Rain European White Birch

Similar in all aspects of the species, except that the foliage color is purple and is retained throughout the season.

Betula pendula 'Purpurea' - Purple Leaf European White Birch

Similar in all aspects to the species, except that the foliage color in the spring is a deep reddish purple aging to a purple-green and finally to a dark green by mid to late summer. The new foliage growth is also purple, as well as the catkins and fruit.

Betula pendula 'Trost's Dwarf' - Trost Dwarf European White Birch

Very unlike the species, with threadlike green leaves and a small dwarf bushy habit of growth. More of a collectors plant for those that really like something different.

Betula pendula 'Youngii' - Youngs Weeping European White Birch

Foliage and bark color similar to the species, but the habit of growth is broad, mop-like and weeping. Generally grafted on a standard at a desired height, but can also be staked to a desired height and then allowed to weep. A very decorative tree, often used as a specimen, as it commands much attention.

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The Oriental Birches

Betula albo-sinensis - Chinese Paper Birch

This native of central and western China can grow to 90' or more, but under cultivation a height range from 40'-60' would be more reasonable. The bark color is a orange -red to orange -brown and exfoliates in sheets, no thicker than tissue paper. Foliage color is a dark yellowish-green changing to all yellow by fall. Although seldom seen in American landscapes, it is common in European gardens, this birch is hardy in zone 5. Great plant for the collector.

Betula davurica - Dahurian Birch

This broad rounded birch can grow to 40'-50' and just as wide. It is native to northern China, Manchuria and Korea and is hardy to zone 4. Foliage color is the typical dark green changing to yellow in the fall. Bark is similar to that of the river birch, but instead of peeling off in papery sheets, the bark appears to puff out from the trunk. Apparently it is most often found on the east coast.

Betula ermanii - Erman Birch

A large growing oval-pyramidal birch to 100', with pinkish-white to creamy, exfoliating, white bark that comes off in large papery sheets. Native to northeastern Asia and Japan. Best reserved for zones 5 and 6.

Betula grossa - Japanese Cherry Birch

This native of Japan can grow to 80', but instead of having exfoliating bark typical of many birches, the bark on this birch is smooth, polished, reddish-brown and cherry-like. On older trees the bark becomes fissured and turns a dark gray to black. Fall color is yellow. Hardy to zone 4.

Betula jacquemontii - White-barked Himalayan Birch

This western Himalayan native birch has beautiful cream-white to almost pure white bark with large areas of shaggy brown exfoliating bark, although some claim the bark can vary from an ochre-cream to a light pinkish-brown. Trunks have a tendency to turn white at an early age. Fast growing and best reserved for zones 5-7. Related to Betula utilis

Betula maximowicziana - Monarch Birch

This Japanese native birch can grow to 100' and has the largest leaves and catkins of all birches. The leaves can be up to six inches long and the male catkins to 5" long. Because of the large cordate leaves, this birch resembles a Linden tree in appearance. The bark can be a gray to orange-gray and splits into long, broad thin sheets that remain attached to the tree in shaggy masses. Supposedly borer resistant. Best reserved for zones 5 and 6. 

Betula nana - Dwarf Birch

A shrubby, dwarf birch that is unlike the typical birch. This birch grows 2' high and 4' wide and has conspicuous dark green round-toothed leaves. Very hardy to zone 2 and native to the northern latitudes of Europe, Asia and Alaska, in moist to wet habitats.

Betula platyphylla - Asian White Birch

This white barked birch is native to Manchuria and Korea is fast growing to 60'. Hardy to zone 4. Very susceptible to the bronze birch borer.

Betula platyphylla var. japonica - Japanese White Birch

Similar in all aspects to the Asian white birch, only it originates from Japan.

Betula platyphylla var. japonica 'Whitespire' - Japanese Whitespire Birch

Similar to the above, but shows better resistance to the bronze birch borer. The original seeds of this birch were collected by John L. Creech of the U.S. plant introduction station in 1951 from a single tree in the Yatsugatake Mountains, Japan. Dr. Hasselkus of the University of Wisconsin planted 5 trees from these seeds and selected 1 of these which had the best developed white bark and over-all growth habit. This tree became know as 'Whitespire Birch'.

Betula schmidtii - Schmidt Birch

Schmidt birch is native to Japan, Korea and Manchuria. In its native habitat, this birch can grow to over 80', but under cultivation, 20'-40' can be expected. The bark is brownish-black and flakes off in small, irregular shaped plates. An excellent ornamental tree with golden-yellow fall colors. An interesting tidbit - the wood of this birch is too heavy to float on water. Hardy to zone 5.

Betula x >Avalzam - Avalancheâ Birch

This rare Asian birch has been observed by Lake County Nursery, Perry, Ohio for many years. The original trees were imported from Japan over 60 years ago, by one of the largest nurseries in this country in the mid to late 1800'S, Storrs & Harrison Nursery of Painesville, Ohio. Today, there are only a few trees left standing in memorial to this pioneering nursery, they have outlived all other birches planted at that time. A vigorous grower, showing good resistance to the bronze birch borer. The bark on young trees is light tan, eventually adding pinkish hints, and slowly giving way to an attractive, exfoliating white bark.

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Insects & Disease

There are a great many insects that can be troublesome to the birches, some more than others. Some of them include various aphids, beetles, caterpillars, moths, sawfly, scales, as well as the bronze birch borer, birch and alder lace bugs, birch casebearer, birch leaf miner, birch leaf skeletonizer, fall webworm and others.

The two most troublesome are the bronze birch borer and the birch leaf miner. Although the leaf miner won't kill the tree, they can cause the tree to decline, lose vigor and make it more susceptible to the destructive insects such as the borer, inviting them to prey upon them in their weakened condition. If heavy infestations are overlooked, the leaf miner can distort the overall appearance and attractive qualities of the birches.

Bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius)

A native beetle found throughout the northern United States, from Newfoundland to British Columbia, south to New Jersey and Ohio and as far west as Colorado and Idaho. The flatheaded larvae of this beetle feed on white, gray, black and canoe birches. Monarch, Japanese White, variety 'Whitespire' and River Birch & cultivars show better resistance than others. They will also feed on poplar, quaking aspen, cottonwood and willow. They are generally more injurious to trees growing in the open or under cultivation than those that are in the forest. They are also more likely to prey upon trees on the decline rather than those that are healthy and vigorously growing. Eggs are laid under the bark flaps or in cracks of the branches or twigs, when the larvae hatch they immediately bore into the tree to start feeding. Dormant oil sprays in early spring will help to kill these larvae, by smothering them.

Some of the causes that predispose birch to borer attack are drought, sunscald, defoliation from other insects, injuries caused to the tree by storms, mower damage, improper pruning, improper planting (too deep or too high), improper fertilization or just plain old age. The borer can not survive in healthy trees. The beetles are olive-bronze and nearly 1" long, they will feed on birch leaves, but prefer alder or poplar. The larvae or grubs are the most destructive, mining throughout the stems and trunks just under the bark, feeding on the tree. Generally speaking, injury from this borer isn't noticed until it's too late, that is, when the tops of the infected trees start dying back. Some tell tale signs of the presence of this borer, besides the top branches of the tree dying back, are D-shaped holes in the bark where adults have emerged, or upon close inspection of the trunk and stems you will notice lumpy, serpentine shaped tunnels just under the bark surface.

Recommendations for control by the Dept. of Agriculture are: Use Dursban 4E or 50W or Lindane 20EC. Spray tree thoroughly especially the upper most branches in late May to early June. Spray 3 times at 3 week intervals. Lindane can also be mixed in a 5 gallon bucket and used as a soil drench around the plant to be taken up internally by the roots. Always follow instructions for use of any chemical very carefully. More is not better. In some instances it may be better to call a professional arborist to treat your trees.

Birch Leafminer (Fenusa pusilla)

This imported sawfly was first discovered in Connecticut in 1923 and now it can be found in all of Northeastern North America and parts of Oregon. Gray, paper and the European white birches are those most likely to be affected. The black sawfly, 1/16" long emerges from the soil beneath the trees in early May, about the time the foliage is about half open and lay eggs in the new foliage. The eggs soon hatch and the larvae begin to mine the leaves, feeding on the tissue between the two leaf surfaces causing small kidney shaped blotches in the leaf, eventually more than half the leaf turns brown from the feeding. If one should hold an infected leaf up to the light, the larvae can be seen feeding. There are several generations, the first brood is always the worst, because in the spring every leaf on tree is new and the adult sawfly will not lay eggs on older more developed foliage. Flies will continue laying eggs on the new foliage at the end of branches or on water sprout as the season continues. Larvae development lasts from 10 to 15 days, by which time they have matured. They then cut a hole through the leaf and drop to the ground and build a cell in which pupation takes place, 2-3 weeks will elapse for transformation into the adult stage.

Lindane or malathion can be used for control, spraying in May as soon as small blotches are seen on the foliage and repeat in about six weeks. The soil beneath the tree can be treated with a systemic insecticide to control the larva that over-winter in the soil.

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Helpful Tips

A couple of planting tips when considering birches for the landscape.

¨ Most birches are sun loving and moderate to fast growing. Give them plenty of room to grow and full sunlight or a filtered sunlight that will be dispersed over the entire tree from sun up to sun down. If you do not do this, your birch will start to lean towards the strongest light source and will become tilted in appearance.

¨ Many of the birches are affected some way or another by insects, since birches always seem to look more natural in the landscape near water, one should try to choose birch species and/or cultivars that will not require a great deal of spraying. Spraying chemicals near ponds, streams or other sources of water can be hazardous to humans as well as beneficial wildlife.

¨ Although, I wouldn't consider the birch to be a messy tree, care should be taken when planting near patios, porches or other hard paved areas. The catkins ( seeds), although small are usually abundant and can be somewhat messy. Guess it depends on how fussy you are.

Other birch tips:

¨ Birch are bleeders and should not be cut in the spring the sap is flowing. Wait until summer or fall.

¨ Most of the birches prefer a slightly acidic soil, chlorosis will occur on soils with a high pH.

Chlorosis is a reduction in the amount of chlorophyll or green pigment in a leaf, resulting in foliage that will lighter than the normal green color to a yellow or even white in severe cases. The development of chlorosis generally means that certain essential elements needed by the plant are unavailable due to excessive soil alkalinity. Should this be a problem, an application of sulfur or aluminum sulfate can be used to adjust the pH.

¨ Some tree species are best planted in the spring or early summer of the year. Birches are among them. This is not to say that they can not be successfully dug and planted in the fall, for they can, but the utmost attention must be given to the cultural care of the tree to ensure its survival through the winter months.

¨ To clump or not to clump? Many birches are sold in two forms. Clump form, which has multiple stems (or trunks) and single form, which is one, single-trunked tree. Clump forms are probably most often planted in the landscape. Multi-trunked trees will give the feeling of a natural, woodland stand of trees in a small area. The choice is purely a matter of personal selection. Single trunk birch trees are equally attractive.

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