White Birch (Betula papyrifera)

#fileRepository("/about/sustainability/campus-trees/${tree.treecode}")

Quick Facts

  • The bark is consumed by many woodland animals despite its low nutritional content
  • Considered both a shade tree and an ornamental
  • Home to many cavity-nesting birds, including woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches and swallows

About

The White Birch has simple alternately arranged leaves that are 2–4 inches long on leaf stems about 1 inch in length. They are medium green in color and have double serrate margins. Defined by a smooth white bark that curls and peels when the tree begins to mature. Typically has a height from 50-70 feet once mature. Produces brown or green catkins in April/May and the leaves turn a bright yellow during autumn. 

Map