Paper BirchBetula papyrifera

• Habitat – the most widely distributed (east to west)

of all North American birches – northern North America, Labrador to

Alaska, south into Northern Rocky Mountains, northern plains states and Pennsylvania

– zone 2 • Habit and Form

– a deciduous, medium-sized tree – 50' to 70' tall – more or less pyramidal when young – older trees become oval to rounded, with

increasing irregularity in shape – individuals have single trunks, but

nurseries often grow them in groups of 3 or 4 ("clump birches") individual seedlings planted together in a common container

– fast growing, especially when young – typically branched to a few feet above the

ground in open exposures – texture is medium

Paper BirchBetula papyrifera

• Summer Foliage– alternate, ovate, simple

leaves, 2" to 4" long and 1.5" to 3" wide

– often with an acuminate or pointed tip

– leaf base either acute or heart-shaped

– color is a dull, dark green above and paler on the underside

• Autumn Foliage– clear bright yellow – typically dependable and

showy

Paper BirchBetula papyrifera

• Flowers– 2" to 4" long catkins, usually

in 3's and some in pairs (male). Female catkins 1" to 1.5" long

– blooming in early spring – prior to bloom, catkins are

shorter – little ornamental value

• Fruit– catkins, 1" to 1.5" long,

composed of nutlets – no ornamental importance

Paper BirchBetula papyrifera

• Bark– young branches show smooth,

reddish-brown bark with horizontal lenticels

– bark becoming papery, chalky white after about 4 seasons

– bark exfoliates or peels in strips to expose orange inner bark

– on very mature trunks, the white is mixed with rough, black patches

– probably the best white bark birch. The bark remains white longer than B. pendula and turns white relatively quickly on young branches.

Paper BirchBetula papyrifera

• Culture– best adapted to cooler climates – does poorly in high summer

heat, especially root zone heat – fairly soil adaptable, often found

growing in sandy, gravely soils. Prefers well-drained, slightly acid sandy loam soils

– easy to transplant and establish from container or B&B

– not tolerant of pollution or difficult sites

– full sun – avoid spring pruning to prevent

bleeding