Betula
Botanical name: Betula
Betula
Botanical name: Betula
Description
Betula grow throughout the world, and are known for their bark which, on all species except the gray birch, peels off in strips. These trees produce large amounts of pollen; they're thought to be responsible for up to 20% of hay fever cases in the northern hemisphere. Bark from betula has been used for centuries to create paper. Afghani texts from the first century were made using this type of bark, and the ancient Romans also wrote on birch paper. The trees' sap and syrup are traditional delicacies in some countries.
Species of Betula
Betula costata
Betula costata grow throughout the world, and are known for their bark which, on all species except the gray birch, peels off in strips. These trees produce large amounts of pollen; they're thought to be responsible for up to 20% of hay fever cases in the northern hemisphere. Bark from betula costata has been used for centuries to create paper. Afghani texts from the first century were made using this type of bark, and the ancient Romans also wrote on birch paper. The trees' sap and syrup are traditional delicacies in some countries.
Birches 'Fascination'
The bark of birches 'Fascination' helps distinguish it from other varieties. As it peels, a deep orange is revealed on the reverse side of the bark while a pink color is revealed underneath, the visual impact of which inspired the variety's name. Its leaves are also darker than those produced by other birch varieties. Birches 'Fascination' is a medium-sized tree.
River birch 'Heritage'
River birch 'Heritage' (Betula nigra 'Heritage') is commonly sold as 'Heritage' but is also known as 'Cully' after Earl Cully who discovered it in St. Louis, Missouri. This birch is derived from river birch (Betula nigra) and shares the same size and growth rate. However, river birch 'Heritage' can be a single trunk or a multi-stemmed tree and features creamy pink bark and an impressive inner white core.
Himalayan birch 'Doorenbos'
Himalayan birch 'Doorenbos' grows as a large tree offering crisp, white bark that peels off to expose pale orange tones that eventually become a bright white. The foliage is dark green turning to golden-yellow in fall. It is a cultivar of Himalayan birch. The name comes from the Dutch words ‘Dooren’, which means 'thorns', and ‘Bos’ which means 'bush'. This cultivar is favored by gardeners for its low-maintenance needs.
Silver birch 'Youngii'
Silver birch 'Youngii' is an ornamental tree with fine foliage, which starts out green and then slowly becomes yellow in the fall. It is named for the graceful way that its branches slope down from the trunk. They last about 30 years, growing fairly slowly and needing only a little upkeep once a year.
Himalayan birch 'Silver Shadow'
Himalayan birch 'Silver Shadow' is a type of birch tree that has unique white bark that peels away to reveal new silvery-gray bark underneath. The bark is considered the whitest of all birch trees. The leaves change from green to orange and gold in the fall. Some people add this tree to streets or landscapes for commercial uses while others may use it as an ornamental tree in their yard.
Himalayan birch 'Doorenbos'
Himalayan birch 'Doorenbos' is an award-winning Himalayan birch cultivar, primarily bred for its medium-size and vigorous, fast growth rate. The cultivar is distinguished by its crisp white bark. It can be grown as a single-stem or multi-stem tree.
Himalayan birch 'Grayswood Ghost'
Himalayan birch 'Grayswood Ghost' is a rare cultivar of Himalayan birch that is distinguishable for its white bark and oval crown. As a cultivar of the var. jacquemontii variety, it is located at the western edge of the Himalayan birch geographic range. It may grow taller than its parent plant (var. Jacquemontii), potentially reaching 18 m instead of 12 m. The white bark certainly makes this tree ghostlike, which may explain its name.
Heart-leaved paper birch
Mature bark is white or bronze-white, peeling in thin layers. The leaves are alternate, ovate, 6 to 12 cm long, and double-toothed. The twigs are yellow-brown to dark-brown and are dotted with resin glands and gray lenticels. The flowers are catkins, with pollen catkins 2 to 4 cm long and seed catkins 1 to 2 cm long. The seed catkins mature to about 3 to 5 cm long and bear winged nutlets about 2 to 3 mm long.
Dwarf birch
Dwarf birch (Betula nana) is an arctic birch shrub with small toothed leaves. It can be found in the coldest regions of North America, Asia, and Europe, even extending as far north as Svalbard. Dwarf birch generally needs unobstructed sunlight to grow well. The leaves turn a striking red in autumn before they fall.
Gray birch
Gray birch (Betula populifolia) is a deciduous tree species that grows best in full sunlight, though it prefers cool climates. Gray birch grows well in poor soils and is tolerant to birch borers. Its narrow pyramid-shape and tolerance to air pollution make it a commonly cultivated tree along city streets.
Paper birch
Paper birch (*Betula papyrifera*) is a tree with unique, papery white bark which is known to peel off the tree. It is also known as American white birch and canoe birch. This tree is relatively short-lived, and its wood is often used to make toothpicks, ice cream sticks, wooden bobbins, clothespins, and canoes.
Yellow Birch
Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) is the largest of all North American birches and among the longest-lived of all the birches, sometimes living over 100 years. It really does have yellow bark, although sometimes it can be yellow-gray or bronze. The bark’s outer layers peel off in thin, curly strips. As the tree ages, the curls become more numerous and may become shredded.
Silver birch 'Laciniata'
A winner of the Award of Garden Merit, silver birch 'Laciniata' is known for its weeping-willow-type branches and incised leaves. Cultivated from the Betula alba, this cultivar was named for the deep "lacerations" found in each leaf. Silver birch 'Laciniata' is beloved for its elegant, sweeping branches and uniquely shaped leaves.
Himalayan birch
Himalayan birch's Latin name, Betula utilis, means "useful," referring to the many functions of the many components of this medium-sized tree. Himalayan birch is a tree native to the Himalayas' temperate slopes, with a glittering white bark that peels every year. Sanskrit scriptures and manuscripts are written on this bark.
Chinese birch
The species is 5 metres (16 ft) tall with either yellow or yellowish-brown colour. Leaf blade is elliptic and ovate with a diameter of 1.5–6 centimetres (0.59–2.36 in) by 1–5 centimetres (0.39–1.97 in). Female species have a subglobose inflorescence which is also oblong with a diameter of 1–2 centimetres (0.39–0.79 in) by 0.6–1.5 centimetres (0.24–0.59 in). It peduncle is 1–2 millimetres (0.039–0.079 in) long while its bracts can be as long as 5–9 millimetres (0.20–0.35 in). Flowers bloom from spring to summer while the fruits ripe in summer.
Schmidt's birch
Schmidt's birch grow throughout the world, and are known for their bark which, on all species except the gray birch, peels off in strips. These trees produce large amounts of pollen; they're thought to be responsible for up to 20% of hay fever cases in the northern hemisphere. Bark from schmidt's birch has been used for centuries to create paper. Afghani texts from the first century were made using this type of bark, and the ancient Romans also wrote on birch paper. The trees' sap and syrup are traditional delicacies in some countries.
Gold birch
Ermans birke is a deciduous tree that reaches heights of growth between 4 and 12 meters. Rarely, specimens can reach extreme values of up to 20 meters. The bark is yellow-white and rolling. The bark of young branches is bald, but with glandular warts and orange in color. The stalked leaves are broadly ovate.
Himalayan birch 'White Satin'
Himalayan birch 'White Satin' is a birch hybrid noted for its unusually pure-white papery bark, which is whiter than that of the parent tree. This is a dwarf hybrid, ideal for gardens, growing to a maximum height of 10 m in contrast to the 20 m of the parent tree.
Birches 'Royal Frost'
This burgundy-leaved, white-barked birch variety grows massively tall, up to forty feet high. Birches 'Royal Frost' was cultivated as a cross between Betula populifolia 'Whitespire' and Betula 'Crimson Frost,' which is how it was named – for its royal purple color and 'Frost' parent. Birches 'Royal Frost' is regarded highly for its unique foliage and bark, seasonal beauty, and ease of care.
Himalayan birch 'Grayswood Ghost'
The white trunk of the himalayan birch 'Grayswood Ghost' certainly has a ghostly appearance. This white bark is characteristic of all Himalayan birches but this hybrid differs because it has larger leaves. This hybrid is naturally selected and originates from Hazelmere, Surrey, in the United Kingdom.
Asian white birch
A medium to large tree, asian white birch is a great choice for cottage gardens with its easy maintenance and pretty white bark. Its bright green leaves turn yellow in the fall and the tree grows small flowers.
Sweet birch
The sweet birch can grow into a shrub or a medium-sized deciduous tree. Its wood is prized for its density and is used in millwork, cabinetry, and furniture. Sweet birch was also the source of wintergreen oil before 1950, synthetic oil of wintergreen appeared. It will attract birds and butterflies like green comma(Polygonia faunus).
Downy birch
Downy birch is a pioneer species of deciduous tree native to Europe and Asia. The bark of the tree is used to make canoes and roofing materials, rope, and oil paper. Historically, the bark was also used as emergency food in times of famine.
Erman's birch 'Grayswood Hill'
Erman's birch 'Grayswood Hill' is named after Grayswood Hill, a 193 m hill close to Haslemere, England. This silver birch has striking cream-white peeling bark and grows to 12 m, much less than the 20 m of the parent tree. Gardeners appreciate its ability to grow well in a wide range of well-drained soils.
River birch
The river birch is a fast-growing tree that thrives in wet environments like floodplains, bottomland and along creeks and streams. It is a native of the Eastern United States. The river birch reaches heights from 15 to 27 m tall and grows an average of 91 cm per year.
Resin birch
The resin birch (Betula glandulosa) is indigenous to the colder reaches of North America, to include Greenland, where it's found in wetland habitats. It serves as a food source to a range of wildlife, including deer, moose, elk, and caribou. It is also helpful in controlling erosion.
Silver birch
The silver birch is native to Europe, Siberia, and China. It can grow between 15 m and 25 m, with a potential to reach 31 m. Its distinct bark is white and eventually becomes flaky. The leaves are pale green during summer and yellow during fall.
Water birch
Beavers love to use the wood of water birch (Betula occidentalis) as a food source and as a dam-building material. This shrubby tree can be found in thickets at the edges of waterways all along western North America. Its extensive root system is well-suited for making sure soil doesn’t wash away, which is why it’s often used in erosion-control projects.
Chinese red-barked birch
Chinese red-barked birch grow throughout the world, and are known for their bark which, on all species except the gray birch, peels off in strips. These trees produce large amounts of pollen; they're thought to be responsible for up to 20% of hay fever cases in the northern hemisphere. Bark from chinese red-barked birch has been used for centuries to create paper. Afghani texts from the first century were made using this type of bark, and the ancient Romans also wrote on birch paper. The trees' sap and syrup are traditional delicacies in some countries.
Betula fruticosa
Betula fruticosa grow throughout the world, and are known for their bark which, on all species except the gray birch, peels off in strips. These trees produce large amounts of pollen; they're thought to be responsible for up to 20% of hay fever cases in the northern hemisphere. Bark from betula fruticosa has been used for centuries to create paper. Afghani texts from the first century were made using this type of bark, and the ancient Romans also wrote on birch paper. The trees' sap and syrup are traditional delicacies in some countries.
Lesser birch
Lesser birch grow throughout the world, and are known for their bark which, on all species except the gray birch, peels off in strips. These trees produce large amounts of pollen; they're thought to be responsible for up to 20% of hay fever cases in the northern hemisphere. Bark from lesser birch has been used for centuries to create paper. Afghani texts from the first century were made using this type of bark, and the ancient Romans also wrote on birch paper. The trees' sap and syrup are traditional delicacies in some countries.
Newfoundland dwarf birch
The species is 0.5 metres tall and have a wintergreen smell. The leaves are obovate and have a Glossary of botanical terms#glabrous#glabrous surface. Infructescence is cylindric, erect, short, and 5 to 8 mm long. The fruits ripen by fall and are as glabrous as the leaves.
Dwarf white birch
Betula minor, the dwarf white birch, is a species of birch which can be found in Eastern Canada and in such US states as Maine, New Hampshire, and New York.
Betula corylifolia
Betula corylifolia grow throughout the world, and are known for their bark which, on all species except the gray birch, peels off in strips. These trees produce large amounts of pollen; they're thought to be responsible for up to 20% of hay fever cases in the northern hemisphere. Bark from betula corylifolia has been used for centuries to create paper. Afghani texts from the first century were made using this type of bark, and the ancient Romans also wrote on birch paper. The trees' sap and syrup are traditional delicacies in some countries.
Scientific Classification
Botanist in your pocket
Scan QR code to download
