Slender and graceful birch trees are admired by many gardeners. Birch offers magic in all seasons. In spring, its bright green leaves bloom with hanging clusters of catkins. In the summer they offer chiaroscuro for clinging shade, followed by the brilliant color of their foliage in the fall. Beautiful bark appears in winter.
If you think birch trees have white, papery bark and green leaves, you're not wrong. Many species of birch trees share these characteristics. But did you know that there are dozens of species of birch, not even species of birch trees, and that some have completely different shapes?
What are the different types of birch trees?
If you're wondering about the different types of birch trees, read on. Here's a roundup of our favorite birch species. We've added some weeping birch cultivars and some smaller birch cultivars for compact gardens.
1. European birch (Betula pendula)
This is a classic and very common birch, one of the varieties of weeping birch. It is between 30 and 60 feet (10 and 20 m) long and wide. The trunk has beautiful white bark with black stripes, and the branches are drooping. The leaves of this birch are green in the summer, yellow in the fall. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
2. Paper birch (Betula papyrus)
With its flaky white bark and green leaves, the birch leaf looks a lot like the European birch except that its branching structure is straighter. It is a rock star tree, fast growing and young, but very beneficial to wildlife, attracting many wild birds and hosting luna moth larvae. Plant in full sun and keep the soil moist.
3. River birch (Betula nigra)
River birch trees have attractive trunks that range in color from cinnamon to salmon red. Bark scales and curls. The leaves are bright green in the summer, then turn yellow in the fall. It is a birch that, unlike many members of its family, tolerates heat, partial shade, and some drought.
4 - Black Birch (Betula lenta)
How about a birch with dark brown bark? Black birch bark is similar to cherry tree bark but highly aromatic with a scent of winter greenery. The tree's green leaves turn golden in fall. It is not one of the smaller birch species and can reach 90 feet (30 m) in height.
5. Gray birch (Betula populifolia)
Resembles birch leaves. However, this species usually grows multiple stems and the bark is whitish-gray and does not peel. It will grow in dry, sandy soils, although, like most birch trees, it prefers moist soil.
6 - yellow or golden birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
If you like birch with scaly bark, consider yellow birch. Its beautiful, copper-colored bark flakes off in sheets, and it puts on a yellow fall display. There is no dry or sandy soil, no hot spots for this native. The yellow birch is a tall deciduous tree that grows up to 80 feet (27 m) tall, making it one of the largest species of birch in North America.
7. Japanese white birch (Betula platyphylla "japonica")
Native to Korea and Japan, this species is one of the weeping birch species. It is a medium-sized tree, reaching 50 feet (17 m) tall in USDA zones 3 through 8. It has white bark and thin branches dotted with drooping branches. It can thrive in moist, well-drained loam in full sun.
8. Water birch (Betula occidentalis or Betula fontanalis)
This attractive birch is one of the smaller birch species, growing to 25 feet (8 m) as a shrub and 40 feet (12.5 m) as a tree. In the wild, water birch trees grow along streams in zones 3 through 7 in higher elevations. The attractive bark is dark mahogany and is smooth and not peeling. Beavers use this tree for food and supplies for their lodges.
9 - Dwarf Birch (Betula nana)
Another small species of birch, the dwarf birch is native to cool tundra landscapes in USDA Zones 1 through 8, including Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and northern Asia. It is truly a dwarf variety, reaching 3 feet (9 m) in height. Like most birch trees, it prefers moist but well-drained soil and full sun.
10. Himalayan birch (Betula utilis var. jacquemontii)
It's a winning combination for Himalayan birch: pretty spring flowers, deep golden foliage, and glossy white papery bark. This medium-sized tree—up to 50 feet (17 m) tall—grows pyramidal from its single trunk. It grows best in cooler climates such as USDA Zones 4 through 7 where birch is an attractive and long-lived tree.
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