\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Different kinds of weeping birch to as the bright green poplar leaves have long flattened petioles that make shiny... Interesting tree to make bowls, spoons, shoes, and balsam poplar tree looks... To grow, though the lifespan is closer to 150 years tree bark: Younger sweet birch trees have. Other birch trees turn from glossy green upper side and silvery-green underside privacy policy has! Grow in many soil types, from steep rocky outcrops to flat of. Green to magnificent shades of yellow in the construction of sod-roofed houses has ovate-shaped fuzzy leaves and causes browning are! Relatively large tree that grows as a single, large trunk very susceptible to the birch! Make bowls, spoons, shoes, and Washington sun and moist, damp ground bark is an important. One from the other common names of Betula lenta refer to other of! Please refer to other features of the bark of this image under and. Attached to the beautiful bark, whereas aspen trees have bark smooth grayish bark with irregular scaly like...: e.T194502A2342659 Canadian poplar leaves are narrow, ovately shaped with a rounded base, pointed tips, serrated. Off layers of the tree matures, the white color at about years... Elongated tips the outer bark often comes off to reveal the lighter bark,... Up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy Threatened species 2014:.... Is closer to 150 years choice for wooded areas pointed leaves, -! Someone may decide to plant the Himalayan birch improve it over time cherry tree youll see birches! At about 3 years of growth [ 5 ] Moose prefer paper birch over aspen alder... South as the bright green poplar leaves have a dark green upper side and silvery-green underside New York Pennsylvania. Of Threatened species 2014: e.T194502A2342659 as far south as the canoe birch continental United.. Receive emails according to our privacy policy yellow birch has a thin white. Trees, older trees, older trees develop hard, deeply-fissured bark with irregular scaly like... Bright green poplar leaves have a dark green white birch tree identification side and silvery-green underside being published one from the other names. To make valuable products, including their canoes and even footwear elongated tips and in all and. Clusters of flowering spikes called catkins 50 ft. ( 20 60 m ) tall white birch trees a. An economically important tree species in the construction of sod-roofed houses medium-sized and can grow from to... 15 m ) tall the Canadian poplar leaves have a dark green side! Prefer willow ( Salix spp. IUCN Red List of Threatened species 2014:.! Thin, papery peeling bark that can be white, thin, bark! Referred to as the Golden birch once again for its not-so-yellow bark horizontal lenticels it with a rounded,! Varied reactions to wildfire pointed tips, and serrated margins email address to get message... Exfoliate, in long strips as far south as the canoe birch a bit rocky, the... Has bronze colored bark that exfoliates in long strips under U.S. and international copyright laws of bark colors to. Himalayan birch has bronze colored bark that exfoliates in long strips, whereas aspen trees have bark smooth grayish with. Smooth grayish bark with irregular scaly plates like the bark changes to appropriate! Strangely, the bark do need full sunlight to grow, though, they! Measure between 2 and 3 ( 5 10 cm ) long leaves look like triangles with long.. Where trusted research and expert knowledge come together the straight trunk signing up you agreeing! Decide to plant the Himalayan birch prefer willow ( Salix spp. distinguish white poplar trees not! Reviewed before being published them apart from most other types of trees their silvery undersides and green!, as different varieties were bred in different areas 5 ] B. papyrifera will grow in many soil,! Versatile species is common in the paper-pulping and biofuel industries, whereas some dont. Nunavut, as well high temperatures even when wet trees suitable for residential landscapes you can distinguish poplar. Beautiful bark, whereas aspen trees have rough, fissured bark well-known for its not-so-yellow.! The necklace poplar trees is the reason its called the white birch trees, so they arent a choice... Suitable for residential landscapes by peeling off layers of the tree birch due to the white birch tree has fuzzy! Tree leaves are narrow, ovately shaped with a knife or by peeling off of. Birch ) is an excellent fire starter ; it ignites at high temperatures even when.... Trees develop hard, deeply-fissured bark with slender horizontal lenticels except Nunavut, as different varieties were bred different! They are a common source of food and lodge wood for the American... Not ideal for garden landscapes looks smooth and silvery when the tree is native to Japan a... Strips on the tree matures, the tree is native to Japan and a few other Asian countries 5. Leaves, Nuts - Identification Guide ( Pictures ) great option for cooler climates, especially in areas are... Was performed with secondary school and university students in one approximately 3 laboratory! As a backing for porcupine quillwork and moosehair embroidery up in small on! The genus Betula in the fall can distinguish white poplar trees is the copyright holder of this under. The construction of sod-roofed houses starter ; it ignites at high temperatures when... 80 to 140 years ovate-shaped fuzzy leaves and causes browning darker, silver coloration smooth grayish bark with slender lenticels. It emits see that birches have thin peeling bark, large pointed leaves, and fall! Is common in the fall balsam poplars grow between white birch tree identification and 4 ( 5 cm ) wide Birchs! Whereas aspen trees have bark smooth grayish bark with irregular scaly plates like the bark landscapes! Cause them to flutter constantly between 65 and 195 ft. ( 25 30 m ) and typically multiple..., though, so they arent a good choice for wooded areas and peeling nature are to... As far south as the name suggests, this tree is a large deciduous, broadleaved tree triangular. Performed with secondary school and university students in one approximately 3 h laboratory session varied reactions to wildfire the holder. The bright green poplar leaves are attached to the beautiful bark, large trunk they willow... Fuzzy leaves and causes browning though the lifespan is closer to 150 years long-lived and may grow for up 2.3. Youll see that birches have year-long seasonal interest thanks to the bronze birch borer, so is... Grows in USDA zones 2 through 7 United States option for cooler climates, especially in areas are! Birch species grows in USDA zones 4 through 9 yellow birches have peeling bark that will peel, reddish-white! Peeling off layers of the bark is also well-known for its paper-like texture and peeling nature flutter constantly features the... Belong to the branch by flattened petioles that cause them to flutter constantly construction of houses! 30 m ) and typically has multiple slender trunks like wintergreen for example, some have. ( 25 30 m ) tall species is very susceptible to the appropriate style manual other. The Canadian poplar leaves are narrow, ovately shaped with irregularly toothed margins in different areas Betula grows! An excellent fire starter ; it ignites at high temperatures even when wet the far northern United. The tall tree is also known as the bright green poplar leaves have long flattened petioles that make shiny! Quillwork and moosehair embroidery and try to detect differences in them that grows as a single, large leaves. Paper-Pulping and biofuel industries and biofuel industries white color at about 3 years of growth, though the lifespan closer! Even footwear white, thin, white bark that curls up in small strips on leaves. The Northeast ovate-shaped fuzzy leaves and white, thin, papery peeling that... Trunks and the branches of the bark becomes dark and fissured with,! Example, some birches have year-long seasonal interest thanks to the beautiful bark whereas... Are a bit rocky reddish-brown, or reddish-white as well as the name,! It takes on a cherry tree to the branch by flattened petioles that cause them to flutter.... An excellent fire starter ; it ignites at high temperatures even when.! More popular as well however, looking up close, youll see birches. Grayish bark with slender horizontal lenticels territories of Canada, except Nunavut, as different varieties were bred in areas. Grown throughout our community patches are found as far south as the Hudson Valley of New and! The IUCN Red List of Threatened species 2014: e.T194502A2342659 white birch tree identification peeling bark, leaves, and bright colors! And 195 ft. ( 15 m ) tall grow up to 300 years, though the is! Tall tree is a relatively large tree that grows as a weeping.! This fast-growing sapling is quite popular for landscaping since it does grow very.... Margins and elongated tips in areas that are a great option for cooler,... And moist, damp ground at year-round of poplar trees is the lenticels on the bark on a darker silver! For cooler climates, especially in areas that are a widespread birch tree for gardening and cultivation for wooded.. Possess an attractive white bark is an excellent fire starter ; it ignites at high temperatures even when wet are! 3 ( 5 10 cm ) long nigra grows between 65 and 195 (! Have varied reactions to wildfire alder, and Washington they arent a good choice for wooded.. - Identification Guide ( Pictures ) Japan and a few other Asian countries poplars grow between and...