where is the paper birch native to

What is a paper birch?

Betula papyrifera ( paper birch, [4] also known as (American) white birch [4] and canoe birch [4]) is a short-lived species of birch native to northern North America. Paper birch is named for the tree's thin white bark, which often peels in paper like layers from the trunk.

Where do paper birch trees grow in Minnesota?

Native to the Northern half of the United States. Minnesota is in this tree's southern range. Renaissance Reflection® paper birch ( Betula papyrifera 'Renci'): A fast-growing cultivar with striking white bark. The dark green foliage transitions to a golden color in the fall.

Where do birch trees grow in North America?

Raup), and northwestern paper birch (B. papyrifera var. subcordata (Rydb.) Sarg.) are the most widely distributed birches in North America, mostly in Canada. These medium-sized, fast-growing trees develop best on well-drained, sandy loams on cool moist sites.

How long do paper birch trees live?

Paper birch is considered a short-lived species. Trees mature in 60 to 70 years, and few live longer than 140 to 200 years (46). The variety cordifolia apparently has a longer life span. Several trees on Mt. Washington in New Hampshire were more than 200 years old; the oldest was 225 (37).

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Is paper birch native to North America?

Betula papyrifera (paper birch, also known as (American) white birch and canoe birch) is a short-lived species of birch native to northern North America.

Where is the birch tree native to?

Betula occidentalis (Water Birch) is a species in the Betulaceae family native to western North America. In California its distribution is somewhat patchy, being found in the southern Sierras, Siskiyu and Modoc counties. It typically occurs along streams in mountainous regions from 2,000 ft. to over 11,000 ft.

Is paper birch native to Canada?

Ten species are native to Canada: 6 trees and 4 shrubs. Several species, especially the white or paper birch, are widespread throughout the country; other birches are regional (yellow and grey, East; cherry, Ontario; Alaska and water, Northwest).

Is paper birch a good tree?

Paper Birch Tree Care Birches, in general, are well known as water-loving trees and are not very drought resistant. It is best planted in an area that is naturally moist and will require a lot of watering if planted in dry soils or in areas where it must compete with other plants.

How long do paper birch trees live?

Paper birch is considered a short-lived species. Trees mature in 60 to 70 years, and few live longer than 140 to 200 years (46).

Are birch trees native to the US?

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.

Is paper birch good firewood?

White Birch, also known as Paper Birch, is named due to its thin white bark that often peels in paper-like layers from the trunk. It doesn't burn as hot as other types of Birch, making it one of the less desirable types of Birch firewood.

What is paper birch used for?

Paper birch is fast-growing but short-lived and is susceptible to borers when cultivated south of its natural range. The close-grained almost white wood is used for turned articles, woodenware, pulp, and fuel. North American Indians used the thin water-impervious bark for roofing and canoes.

When was birch banned?

In the United Kingdom, birching as a judicial penalty, in both its juvenile and adult versions, was abolished in 1948, but it was retained until 1962 as a punishment for violent breaches of prison discipline.

Are paper birch roots invasive?

While birch tree roots can be invasive, it is not likely they will take over your home.

Do deer eat paper birch trees?

The Paper Birch can reach up to 70 feet tall, though young saplings will range between 10 and 20 feet for the first few years. Though deer may visit the Paper Birch tree, they will not nibble.

Is paper birch a messy tree?

Birch trees are a very popular choice for landowners, especially since they make great ornamental trees. They can be quite messy, though, thanks to several natural traits that lead to some sticky situations. No worries, though, there are many solutions to keep your yard clean in the wake of a birch tree!

Is paper birch native to Ontario?

White Birch is a common tree found throughout Ontario. The smooth white paper-like bark is immediately recognizable and the tree is sometimes referred to as "paper" birch. Often found in homogenous stands, White Birch is an important source of food for many birds and animals which consume the leaves, buds and seeds.

Where do paper birch trees grow in Canada?

It is found throughout British Columbia but only in a few scattered places on the outer coast. Paper birch grows on a variety of soils, and is abundant on rolling upland terrain and floodplain sites, but it also grows on open slopes, avalanche tracks, swamp margins and in bogs.

Which trees are native to Canada?

10 Awesome Trees to Know and Love In CanadaPaper Birch. The provincial tree of Saskatchewan, this tree is known as the canoe birch, or white birch. ... The Lodgepole Pine. ... Western Red Cedar. ... White Spruce. ... Red Oak. ... Tamarack Larch. ... Rocky Mountain Fir. ... Yellow Birch.More items...

Is yellow birch native to Canada?

Yellow birch is the largest birch native to Ontario.

Where are birch trees found?

Members of the family are distributed in temperate and subarctic areas of the Northern Hemisphere, where some reach the northern limit of woody plants; in tropical mountains; and in South America through the Andes as…. birch.

How tall is a paper birch?

See also birch. The paper birch is usually about 18 metres (60 feet) tall but occasionally reaches 40 metres (131 feet); it can also be small and sometimes shrubby in certain conditions. It has ovate to nearly triangular dark green sharp-pointed leaves up to 10 cm (4 inches) long.

What is a birch tree?

birch. Birch, (genus Betula ), genus of about 40 species of short-lived ornamental and timber trees and shrubs of the family Betulaceae, distributed throughout cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere.….

What color is the bark of a spruce tree?

The bark, brown at first, whitens and peels into paper-thin layers, marked by narrow horizontal pores, or lenticels. On the copper-coloured inner bark, the pores are bright orange. Short pendulous branches and their numerous flexible twigs create a lacy silhouette in winter.

What is the wood used for turning?

The close-grained almost white wood is used for turned articles, woodenware, pulp, and fuel. North American Indians used the thin water-impervious bark for roofing and canoes. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello, Assistant Editor.

Where are betulaceae found?

Members of the family are distributed in temperate and subarctic areas of the Northern Hemisphere, where some reach the northern limit of woody plants; in tropical mountain s; and in South America through the Andes as…

Is paper birch a male or female flower?

The male and female flowers are borne separately on catkins. paper birch. Bark of the paper birch ( Betula papyrifera ). E.H. Ketchledge. Paper birch is fast-growing but short-lived and is susceptible to borers when cultivated south of its natural range.

Where is paper birch found?

Distribution: Paper Birch is widely distributed throughout the northern regions of North America from Alaska to Newfoundland. It is common in the Great Lakes region and northeastern United States. In the western U.S. it is mostly found in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and western Montana.

What is a paper birch tree?

Paper Birch The Birch Family–Betulaceae. Betula papyrifera Marsh. (BET-yoo-la pap-er-IH-fur-uh) Name: Paper Birch gets its name from the way the bark on older trees will peel in thin, white, papery sheets. It is also sometimes called Canoe Birch or White Birch.

What animals eat paper birch?

Use by Wildlife: Paper Birch is an important moose browse; deer also eat the leaves. Hare, porcupines and beavers eat the bark and young saplings. Birds, such as finches and chickadees, and small rodents, such as voles and shrews, eat Paper Birch seeds. Grouse eat the catkins and buds. Hummingbirds and squirrels may feed at sapwells created by sapsuckers. Many cavity-nesting birds find homes in Paper Birch trees.

How long does it take for paper birch to grow?

Most are disseminated by the wind from September to November. Propagation: Paper Birch is easily propagated by seed, stratified at 40ºF (4ºC) for 90 days. After treatment, sown seeds should be exposed to light at least 8 hours a day.

How many species of birch trees are there in the world?

Relationships: There are about 40 species of Birch trees in the northern temperate regions of the world, about 15 in North America. Distribution of Paper Birch from USGS ( “Atlas of United States Trees” by Elbert L. Little, Jr. ) Distribution: Paper Birch is widely distributed throughout the northern regions of North America from Alaska ...

When do birches bloom?

It is best, however, to avoid planting birches next to where cars will be parked because the resident insect population may drip sticky honeydew throughout the summer! Phenology: Bloom Period: Mid-April to early June. Birch pollen is also a major allergen. Small winged nutlets ripen early August to mid-September.

Where do fac trees grow?

Habitat: It grows best in moist sites, in open woods. Wetland designation: FAC, Facultative, it is equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wetlands. The white bark peels in papery sheets. Diagnostic Characters: Although the white, papery bark is a good identification character for older trees, young, darker barked trees may be confused ...

What is a paper birch tree?

Paper birch is named for the tree's thin white bark, which often peels in paper like layers from the trunk. Paper birch is often one of the first species to colonize a burned area within the northern latitudes, and is an important species for moose browsing. The wood is often used for pulpwood and firewood.

Why is paper birch planted?

Paper birch is planted to reclaim old mines and other disturbed sites, often bare-root or small saplings are planted when this is the goal. Since paper birch is an adaptable pioneer species, it is a prime candidate for reforesting drastically disturbed areas.

What is the name of the tree that was first planted in the area after other trees were removed?

Betula papyrifera is a pioneer species, meaning it is often one of the first trees to grow in an area after other trees are removed by some sort of disturbance. Typical disturbances colonized by paper birch are wildfire, avalanche, or windthrow areas where the wind has blown down all trees.

How long does a paper birch tree live?

It handles heat and humidity poorly and may live only 30 years in zones six and up, while trees in colder-climate regions can grow for more than 100 years. B. papyrifera will grow in many soil types, from steep rocky outcrops to flat muskegs of the boreal forest.

What is the name of the tree that grows in Alaska?

In Alaska, paper birch often naturally grows in pure stands by itself or with black or white spruce. In the eastern and central regions of its range, it is often associated with red spruce and balsam fir. It may also be associated with big-toothed aspen, yellow birch, Betula populifolia, and maples .

What color is birch bark?

In older trees, the bark is white, commonly brightly so, flaking in fine horizontal strips to reveal a pinkish or salmon-colored inner bark. It often has small black marks and scars. In individuals younger than five years, the bark appears a brown red color with white lenticels, making the tree much harder to distinguish from other birches. The bark is highly weather-resistant. It has a high oil content and this gives it its waterproof and weather-resistant characteristics. Often, the wood of a downed paper birch will rot away, leaving the hollow bark intact.

How much sugar is in birch sap?

The sap is boiled down to produce birch syrup. The raw sap contains 0.9% carbohydrates ( glucose, fructose, sucrose) as compared to 2 percent to 3 percent within sugar maple sap. The sap flows later in the season than maples. Currently, only a few small-scale operations in Alaska and Yukon produce birch syrup from this species.

What is a paper birch tree?

Trees of the Adirondacks: Paper Birch is an early successional species which rapidly colonizes open sites created by fire or logging. In late successional forests, it is more frequently found in openings and trail edges. Paper Birch ( Betula papyrifera) growing in mixed woods forest on the Heron Marsh Trail (30 September 2018).

Where is paper birch sap made?

The handsome foliage and showy white bark make the trees attractive for landscaping. Paper Birch can be tapped in the spring to obtain sap from which syrup, wine, beer, or medicinal tonics can be made. Birch syrup is produced commercially in Alaska and Canada.

What trees produce sweet sap?

Trees of the Adirondacks: Paper Birch trees produce a sweet sap that can be processed into syrup. Paper Birch ( Betula papyrifera) at Heart Lake (29 April 2019). Paper Birch is used primarily for specialty products such as ice cream sticks, toothpicks, bobbins, clothespins, spools, broom handles, and toys.

What tree has a white bark?

Trees of the Adirondacks: The distinctive, creamy white bark of Paper Birch peels off in strips or sheets. Paper Birch ( Betula papyrifera) on the Henry's Woods Loop Trail (27 July 2019). Paper Birch trees feature a distinctive white bark. The bark of young Paper Birch trees is brownish, but begins to turn white when the tree is about a decade old.

What is the difference between birch bark and paper birch bark?

Both Paper Birch and Yellow Birch feature peeling bark. The Paper Birch has bright white bark, the underside of which is a pinkish color. When it peels, the strips are fairly wide, and thick. Yellow Birch bark, by contrast, is more bronze in color; and the bark of the Yellow Birch tends to peel off in thin papery ringlets. This distinction is less helpful in older specimens, when the bark has darkened with age.

What is the color of birch bark?

The white bark develops paper-like layers. Beneath the loose paper, the tree's inner bark is creamy to pinkish or orangish white. The tree may have dark triangular markings (or chevrons) where the branches have died and fallen off. The leaves of Paper Birch trees are green in summer, turning yellow in fall.

How to tell if a birch is yellow?

The scent of the stem is another identifier. Scrape a short section of the twig of the birch in question with your fingernail and give it a sniff. If it smells like wintergreen, you have a Yellow Birch.

Where does paper birch grow?

As might be expected from its wide range and genetic diversity, paper birch grows on almost any soil and topographic situation ranging from steep rocky outcrops of the mountains to flat muskegs of the boreal forest (Histosols). Best development and growth are on the deeper well-drained to moderately well-drained Spodosols, Inceptisols, and Entisols common to glacial deposits throughout its range. In Alaska, best development occurs on Inceptisols developed on loess deposits. Paper birch was found in all habitats described for the White Mountains of New Hampshire and occurred in 50 percent or more of the plots in six of these habitats. Poorest site-index values were obtained for the driest and wettest sites of the range sampled, whereas higher values were obtained for the moist and nutrient enriched habitats (56).

What is the climate of paper birch?

Climate. Paper birch is a northern species adapted to cold climates. Its range is bounded on the north by the 13° C (55° F) July isotherm and in the south, it seldom grows naturally where average July temperatures exceed 21° C (70° F).

What is the name of the birch tree in Alaska?

Paper birch is a common associate of 39 northern forest types. In the east and central regions, it is a major component of two forest cover types (29): Paper Birch (Society of American Foresters Type 18) and Paper Birch-Red Spruce-Balsam Fir (Type 35). In Alaska and western North America, it is an integral member in three types: Paper Birch (Type 252), White Spruce-Paper Birch (Type 202), and Black Spruce-Paper Birch (Type 254).

How deep does birch soil need to be?

Typical soil temperatures of birch stands in the Fairbanks region of Alaska range from 9° to ll° C (48° to 52° F) at a 10 cm (4 in) depth during the June to August growing season (112). Paper birch grows best in soils free of shallow permafrost. But on north slopes, vigorous sapling birches have been observed where the annual depth of thaw in permafrost was only 64 to 76 cm (25 to 30 in) (67).

What is paper birch litter?

Paper birch litter contributes to the nutrient status of the forest floor. When compared with red pine (Pinus resinosa), litter under birch was found to be enriched with calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and boron and reduced in manganese, aluminum, iron, and zinc.

How much precipitation does a paper birch get?

Paper birch tolerates wide variations in the patterns and amounts of precipitation. In Alaska, annual precipitation averages only about 300 mm (12 in); more than half of this as rain in summer and fall. At higher elevations in eastern mountains, precipitation averages as high as 1520 mm (60 in).

Why does paper birch need to be thinning?

Because of its intolerance, paper birch often requires release from faster growing species such as aspen or pin cherry that overtop it in the early stages of regeneration (53). Response depends on degree of release. Generally, the greater the release, the greater the growth response of paper birch. Thinnings in sapling and pole stands also yield increased diameter growth of paper birch crop trees in proportion to the degree of release (79). Stands approaching maturity-more than 60 years-seldom respond to thinning (33,46).

When do birches bloom?

Birches can become stressed by summer heat and humidity.

What is the bark color of a sage tree?

This tree is noted for its white bark, which exfoliates in papery strips to reveal an orange-brown inner bark. Mature trees develop black markings on the white bark. However, it is not pollution tolerant, has shallow roots, and tends to be short-lived in warmer climates.

Where do sage trees live?

Its native habitat is northern Canada and Alaska and it is the state tree of New Hampshire. Keep the tree consistently moist and consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist. It needs little pruning, but if necessary, you can prune during the dormant season.

Can paper birch be grown in full sun?

Paper Birch is best grown in moist, acidic, sandy or rocky, well-drained soils, but will tolerate a range of soil types. It does well in full sun to part shade, but best foliage color occurs in full sun. If the plant is sited in an area of summer heat and humidity, it will appreciate afternoon partial shade.

Can birch trees be planted in Zone 7?

Birches can become stressed by summer heat and humidity. It is not recommended for planting south of USDA Zone 7. Paper Birch is somewhat susceptible to the bronze birch borer, which can infect and kill trees.

Overview

Description

Genetics and taxonomy

Distribution

Ecology

Conservation

Uses

Pests