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This large handsome tree grows to a height of 50 to 70 feet, with a trunk diameter of 2 to 3 feet. The bark is white and chalky, which separate into papery layers, the lighter colors are on the outside, and get darker as each layer is peeled back. It has darker horizontal lines marked on each layer. The outer white bark is scarred by reddish black patches that extend on each side of the branch, but not triangular. The leaves are deep green, with a pointed oval shape, sometimes heart-shaped at the base, coarsely toothed, hairy above and below on the younger ones, older leaves are smooth, they are also 2 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches long. Flowers bloom in April to May, the pistillate catkins are short stemmed, cylindrical, hard, 3/4 to 1 3/4 inches long, and spreading. The Paper Birch is the most common Birch of New England and New York. It is found in rich woods and is distributed from Newfoundland to northern Pennsylvania, and west to Dakota.
Information about this plant from the USDA Plants Database.
Information from the TreeGuide from Athenic Systems.
This page was last updated 11 Jun 2003.