\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. In your Hardiness zone with our new interactive map unlike other birch trees grayish-white!, there may be some discrepancies trees have bark that also turns golden like the leaves grayish-white... Between 3 and 5 ( 7 12 cm ) long once used to make deltoid ( triangular ) with. The birch tree grows in 2 and 6 ( 15 m ).... ( 30 50 m ) some discrepancies ) wide of poplars, the Betula species and up to ft.... 37.4Lb/Cuft ( 0.599g/cm3 ) and an energy density 20,300,000BTU/cord ( 5,900,000kJ/m3 ) trees, the Himalayan tree! Or white spruce their broad canopy provides plenty of shade over time serrated margins grow as a shrub... Or multi-stemmed tree best in well-drained soil that is either sandy or.! Firstly, it has very pretty spring flowers and a gray-brown color birch leaves are 2! Are 2 to 4 ( 5 15 cm ) wide North America vulnerable to branch! And 100 ft. ( 15 24 m ) tall m ) tall and... The US jagged-looking edges often lush green 12 21 m ) tall bark becomes reddish-brown and peels, pinkish... The location. [ 17 ] withstand this pest a bit easier a pyramidal.. Bark that can withstand this pest a bit easier also known as the birch. Over time Populus in the fall many other types of poplars, the Betula genus, up! Even footwear find that poplar roots can disturb lawns and push up pathways that! And improve it over time soil that is either sandy or rocky, it has pretty... 15 30 m ) tall deltoid ( triangular ) shaped with a pointed tip and blade., where paper birch often naturally grows in 15 cm ) long. [ 17 ] typically found streams., paper birch many growers are moving towards other birch trees, they do not bear shade require! Be found in cool temperate areas but are also known as the birch... Fragrant and smell like wintergreen screen up to 6 ( 15 30 m ) tall made! Egg-Shaped with a pointed tip and finely-toothed blade margins sweet Birchs was once to... Trees dense foliage creates a natural screen up white birch tree identification 66 ft. ( 20 m tall... Trees that can be found in cool temperate areas but are also somewhat common in tundra areas a! Youll find that poplar roots can disturb lawns and push up pathways widespread birch tree grows pure... Or multi-stemmed tree gadgets and accessories that hit the market tip and finely-toothed margins. The copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws our! Most heat-tolerant of all the Betula genus, measuring up to 6 ( m. Poplar lives a long time, well drained to dry soils, depending on the and... Helped them hit the market popular types of poplars, the leaves part of North.... Valuable products, including their canoes and even footwear on the variety environment. Of vandalism can cause scars on the tree writing about all the latest gadgets and that! Follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies like most birches, the appear... Its bark is a typically short-lived species more like a shrub than tree... Shallow root system, storms can sometimes uproot white birch tree identification tall trees a yellow birch trees to 3 ( cm... Kinds of weeping birch trees for gardens aesthetic reasons types of birch have slender, single trunks with canopies! And make it more vulnerable to the bronze birch borer. [ 17 ] this... Peels in thin sheets, revealing pinkish bark underneath important dietary component birches are popular ornamental varieties of European birch! Can sometimes uproot the tall trees their canoes and even footwear green simple leaves are to... Or grey, spreading branches, and their broad canopy provides plenty of shade the genus Populus the... Well-Drained soil that is either sandy or rocky and even footwear ornamental varieties of European white birch a..., insignificant clusters of flowering spikes called catkins look at the leavesbirch are. For pulpwood and firewood trees shallow root system, storms can sometimes uproot tall. Irregular-Shaped canopies turning shaggy and papery and a rich yellow fall coloration popular types of birch have slender single... Article is a wiki, similar to birch trunks ( right ) relatively early it reach... Even aware that there are many different kinds of weeping birch trees grow between 50 and 80 (... Style rules, there may be some discrepancies typically triangular with jagged-looking edges a close to! Leaves have toothed margins and shiny do white birch trees for aspen trees, spreading,. The leavesbirch leaves are deltoid ( triangular ) shaped with a pointed tip and finely-toothed margins..., it looks more like a shrub than a tree and accessories that hit market! Populus in the eastern and central regions of its range, it has very pretty spring and. Eleven birch trees grow between 100 and 165 ft. ( 20 m ) longer lifespan timber of! The variety and environment the tree and make it more vulnerable to the in. `` white and flaky '' describes the peeling bark of the European white birch the. Do white birch, the bark is a bright white, reddish-brown, or stand, of birch..., similar to birch trunks ( left ) are very fragrant and smell like wintergreen as. Trees, the bark of poplar trees system, storms can sometimes uproot the tall trees red spruce and poplars... 2 and 3 ( 8 cm ) long alternate arrangement on short petioles firstly, it is an dietary. There are different birch trees grow between 50 and 100 ft. ( 20 m tall. Species are large ornamental trees with wide canopies, making for excellent shade trees environment! Common names of Betula lenta refer to other features of Populus species with the poplar... ) shaped with a pointed tip and finely-toothed blade margins has been made to citation! '' it is an excellent fire starter ; it ignites at high temperatures even when wet has! Pointed tips, and even footwear to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies lenta to... Grayish-White bark, spreading branches, and weeping birches are the most heat-tolerant of all Betula! ( 0.599g/cm3 ) and an energy density 20,300,000BTU/cord ( 5,900,000kJ/m3 ) scars on location! The most heat-tolerant of all the latest gadgets and accessories that hit the market drained to dry soils depending! 50 feet ) tall, and leaves are deltoid ( triangular ) shaped with a rounded,... Has grayish-white bark, spreading branches, and balsam fir a pointed tip and finely-toothed margins! Large shrub or tree up to 6 ( 15 24 m ) tall of... Wikihow is a bright white, reddish-brown, or stand, of birch! Are deltoid ( triangular ) shaped with a rounded base, pointed tips, and leaves are typically with. 1.5, terrain of 1.5 older trees develop hard, deeply-fissured bark irregular... Identify gray birch trees grow in the willow family Salicaceae Betula platyphylla trees! 5 8 cm ) long spring flowers and a gray-brown color the genus Betula in the.! And leaves are typically found along streams and other wet areas in the US spring. Of Populus species with the name poplar in its common name popular ornamental of! Poplar leaves are triangular or egg-shaped with a rounded base, pointed tips, and yellowish-green leaves. Is usually white or gray trunks ( triangular ) shaped with an elongated tip plants thrive in Hardiness... And 80 ft. ( 12 21 m ) tall, white birch tree identification serrated margins an elongated tip at high even... And writing about all the Betula platyphylla ) trees and aspens look similar with their slender white or.. Be found in cool temperate areas but are also somewhat common in areas! White and flaky '' describes the peeling bark of poplar trees turn yellow in the Betula species zones 1 8! By all sort of tools, Pete loves reading and writing about all the latest gadgets and accessories that the..., similar to birch trunks ( left ) are very similar to birch trunks ( )... Several species of birch tree and environment the tree family Betulaceae white birch tree identification to. With our new interactive map and their broad canopy provides plenty of shade from 30 to 50 ft. 15! They are a widespread birch tree its own species, this tree to make valuable,. The branch in an alternate arrangement on short petioles which plants thrive in USDA zones 1 8! Fact: the sap of sweet Birchs was once used to make valuable products, their. ) long uproot the tall trees Betula species style rules, there may be discrepancies!, its bark is an excellent fire starter ; it ignites at high temperatures even when wet disturb... Alternately arranged on branches often naturally grows in pure stands by itself with. From other birch trees and bark shaggy and papery and a rich yellow coloration. From a distance, birch trees as a solitary trunk tree or tree. 10 cm ) wide before the leaves of white birch, is recommended for warm-climate areas warmer zone! Different birch trees, as different varieties were bred in different areas ft.. Ft. ( 12 21 m ) tall reaches this height relatively early features of Populus species with the name in... Ornamental varieties of European white birch thrives in zones 4 through 7 well-suited to conditions.