Although the birches A birch is a thin-leaved deciduous hardwood tree of the genus Betula, in the family Betulaceae, which also includes alders, hazels, and hornbeams. It is closely related to the beech-oak family Fagaceae. The genus Betula contains 30 to 60 known taxa of which 11 are on the IUCN 201…Birch
Where do birch trees grow in the Rocky Mountains?
Shrubby mountain birch (B. occidentalis) is the only birch native to the southern Rocky Mountains and hails from arid Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah as well as the Pacific Coast, Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas.
Where do dwarf birch trees grow?
Dwarf Birch (Betula nana) MAKY_OREL / Pixabay / CC By 0 Betula nana is native to arctic and cool temperate regions, especially tundra landscapes. It will grow in a variety of conditions, though it favors wet but well-drained sites with a rocky, nutrient-poor, acidic soil. It does not tolerate shade well.
What is an birch tree?
Birch trees belong to the genus Betula and are classified as part of the Betulaceae family of plants. They are typically small to medium-sized trees and shrubs found in temperate zones in the Northern Hemisphere. Some varieties grow in shrubby clusters. Others are trees that clump with multiple trunks. And others grow as classic single-trunk trees.
What is the state tree of New Mexico?
Pinyon, the State tree of New Mexico, is one of the most abun-. dant and most widely distributed tree species in the Southwest. It grows in pure stands or with one or more of four kinds of. junipers and covers vast areas.
Are there birch trees in the Rocky Mountains?
The small, deciduous leaves are bright green above and yellow-green beneath becoming bright yellow in fall. This uncommon but widespread species is the only native birch in the Southwest and the southern Rocky Mountains.
What states do birch trees grow in?
Native birches live in temperate or boreal climates across the northern part of North America. Paper birch (B. papyrifera), the white-barked tree used widely by trading native nations and Voyageurs, grows from Alaska to Maine, but only as far south as the mountains of Virginia, Tennessee and Oregon.
Where are the most birch trees located?
Birch trees are native to cooler regions of the Northern Hemisphere like Europe, Canada, the USA, and the Himalayas. They can handle colder temperatures, but unless they are native to warmer climates they may not do as well in the farther southern regions.
What state is known for white birch?
There are several reasons for choosing the white birch for the state tree. Not only is it native to New Hampshire -- a first consideration -- but it is found in all regions of the state, growing as it does on rich-wooded slopes and along the borders of lakes and streams. It is a characteristic part of the scenery.
Are there birch trees in Arizona?
Birch trees on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
What is the difference between birch and silver birch?
Not to be confused with: Silver birch (Betula pendula) and the two easily hybridise. Silver birch has hairless and warty shoots whereas downy birch shoots are covered in small, downy hairs. The bark of downy birch isn't as white and papery as silver birch.
How do you tell the difference between birch and poplar?
Birch leaves tend to turn golden in the autumn, which can help you recognize the tree. These leaves are typically oval with a tapered end and smaller than the poplar leaves, which are rounded in most species and almost as wide as they are long.
How can you tell if a tree is birch?
You can recognize birch trees by their peeling bark that can be white, gray, or yellow. You will also notice horizontal diamond-shaped raised marks on the light-colored bark. Look at the leaves—birch leaves are typically triangular with jagged-looking edges.
Is there a difference between white birch and paper birch?
Paper birch trees have branches just a few feet above the ground, when you find one growing in the wild, and normally just a single main trunk. European white birch trees have a slender trunk of perhaps a foot in width and noticeably drooping branches throughout its canopy.
Are aspen and birch the same?
Quaking Aspens are often confused with birch trees. Although aspen are somewhat similar in appearance to some species of birch, birch trees belong to an entirely different family of trees. Birch are famous for having bark that peels back like paper; aspen bark does not peel.
Where do white birches grow?
The White Birch Tree (genus Betula) is deciduous, meaning it loses its leaves annually. They grow fast and live short lives. The White Birch does not like humidity and heat and would prefer to live in cooler mountainous regions. It likes deeper, well drained soils but can grow in many soil types.
How long before a birch tree turns white?
Some trees may be 5 - 8 years old before the bark begins to whiten. Many other birches are used in landscaping.
Do birch trees grow in Florida?
Florida's climate is well-suited for growing a variety of birch trees. Although you won't find the iconic white birch in the state, you will find several other types of birch trees that are just as beautiful.
Do birch trees grow in Georgia?
The answer is no, birch trees are not native to the state and do not grow well in the warmer climate. The river and sweet birch are the only species of birch that can tolerate the heat and humidity of Georgia summers. Typically, you'll find them near streams, swamps, and other bodies of water.
Where does the white birch grow best?
Because birch are shallow-rooted, they prefer a location where the soil remains cool and moist while exposing the canopy to ample sunlight (about 6 hours daily). The ideal spot is the north or east side of a building, where the tree will receive full sun in the morning and some shade during the afternoon.
Are aspen and birch the same?
Quaking Aspens are often confused with birch trees. Although aspen are somewhat similar in appearance to some species of birch, birch trees belong to an entirely different family of trees. Birch are famous for having bark that peels back like paper; aspen bark does not peel.
What is a native birch tree?
Native Birch Trees. Native birches (Betula spp.) populate wild places throughout the Northern Hemisphere and conjure romantic images of unspoiled mountain streams and wintry nights. Unfortunately for homeowners, their shallow roots compete with turf grass for moisture and their success in home landscapes is limited by their short lives.
Where do birch trees grow?
One of the largest birch trees, yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis), river birch (B. nigra), and sweet birch (B. lenta L.) all grow east of the Mississippi; river birch grows as far west as Missouri and has been found across the Southeast as well. Sweet birch appears to be resistant to bronze birch borer. Mountain paper birch (B. papyrifera var. cordifolia ) grows in mountainous areas from Maine through the mid-Atlantic states -- and through the upper Midwest as far south as Iowa and north as North Dakota.
What are the names of the birches in the Rockies?
Western birches, B. x eastwoodiae and Betula x sargentii, northern birches from east of the Rockies, Purpus’ birch (B. x purpusii) Sandberg's birch (B. x sandbergii), New England’s Blue birch (B. x caerulea) all seem to be spontaneous hybrids from a combination of river, mountain, paper or bog birches.
Where do bog birches come from?
Bog birch (B. pumila x glandulosa) is native from the Pacific Coast eastward over the Cascades and Rockies to Colorado, North and South Dakota. Shrubby mountain birch (B. occidentalis) is the only birch native to the southern Rocky Mountains and hails from arid Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah as well as the Pacific Coast, Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas. Western paper birch (B. papyrifera var. papyrifera) has been found from Alaska along the Northwest Pacific Coast and east to Montana; but it also grows in Maine, New York, Massachusetts and Indiana.
How tall can a paper birch tree grow?
In U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 2 through 7, paper birch trees can grow as high as 60 feet with a canopy that stretches 35-feet wide.
Where do birches live?
Native birches live in temperate or boreal climates across the northern part of North America. Paper birch (B. papyrifera), the white-barked tree used widely by trading native nations and Voyageurs, grows from Alaska to Maine, but only as far south as the mountains of Virginia, Tennessee and Oregon.
Where does the shrubby mountain birch come from?
Shrubby mountain birch (B. occidentalis) is the only birch native to the southern Rocky Mountains and hails from arid Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah as well as the Pacific Coast, Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas.
What Are Birch Trees?
Birch trees are deciduous trees that grow near water sources throughout the northern hemisphere. Similar to aspens, birch trees are known for their beautiful light-colored bark and bright yellow fall foliage.
How cold can birch trees tolerate?
Some species can tolerate temperatures up to 50 degrees below zero (F).
What is the difference between birch and aspen?
Birch tree leaves are longer and more spear-shaped , while aspen trees have more stout, rounded leaves. In addition, birch trees have looser, more papery bark that tends to peel away from the trunk, while aspens have more tightly-wrapped, greenish-tinted white bark.
What is the best soil for birch trees?
Moist woodlands and near bodies of water in cool, temperate climates. Birch trees prefer moist, loamy soil and can tolerate temperatures as low as -50 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is a medium sized deciduous tree?
Medium-sized deciduous tree with white, silver, yellow, gray, or black bark. Some species have 3 or more main trunks rising from the root system. Leaves have serrated edges and are triangular in shape; they are yellow-green or gray-green in the summer and they turn yellow in the autumn. They have shallow, sprawling root systems that often break through the surface of the ground.
