photo of Betula alleghaniensis

Betula alleghaniensis

Yellow Birch

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Yellow Birch is a large deciduous tree with distinctive bark. The peeling, yellow-bronze, shiny bark has a paper-like appearance. Crushed twigs...

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Description:

Yellow Birch is a large deciduous tree with distinctive bark. The peeling, yellow-bronze, shiny bark has a paper-like appearance. Crushed twigs have a wintergreen-like odor. The showy catkins (elongated, drooping clusters of tiny flowers without petals) appear just before the leaves emerge. The seeds are a food source for a variety of birds. The leaves turn brilliant yellow in the fall. Yellow Birch does well in areas where the soil is shaded, cool, and moist. Trees that are planted in full sun should be mulched and watered during periods of drought. This tree is long-lived for a birch, often living over 100 years. Its strong, close-grained wood has a wide range of color variation, making it popular in furniture-making. Give this large tree plenty of room to grow! Use Yellow Birch as a canopy tree in woodland gardens, or as a shade tree in moist areas of a large yard or park.

Plant Details:

Plant Type: Tree

New Jersey Native: Yes

Bloom Times: Spring

Bloom Colors: Yellow

Deer Resistance: Some

Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Butterflies, Birds

Salt Tolerance: Medium

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Physiographic Region: Ridge & Valley - RV, Piedmont - P, Highland - H

Soil Characteristics

Soil Type: Loam, Organic, Sandy, Clay

Soil Moisture: Dry

Soil pH: Acidic, Slightly Acidic, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline

Light Needs of Plant

Optimal Light: Partial Shade

Light Range: Full Sun, Partial Shade

Water Needs of Plant

Soil Moisture: Dry

Drought Tolerance: Medium

Size and Growth Rate

Height: 60 - 75 ft

Spread: 50 - 65 ft

Growth Rate: Slow