Scientific Name:
Betula alleghaniensis
Pronunciation:
BET-you-luh al-leh-gay-nee-EN-sis
Common Name:
yellow birch
Family Name:
Betulaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Variable species but most with yellowish exfoliating bark (peals off horizontally), becoming grayish with age; twigs orange-brown; leaves alternate, ovate, most blades 6-12(-16) long x 4-9cm wide, margin double-serrate; female catkins green, 2-3cm long; male catkins in clusters of 2-6 at end of twigs, green to purple-yellow, pendulous, 7-10cm long when mature. Winter ID: exfoliating yellowish bark; twigs slender, pubescent; lateral buds conical, pubescent, each scale two shades of brown, wintergreen flavour when chewed; immature catkins.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Pyramidal - widely
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
22 - 30m
Mature Spread:
7 - 10m
Origin:
Canada - eastern, U.S. - northeast
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Attract birds, Erosion control, Wildlife food, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Summer:
Green, Green-yellow
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Ovate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Cordate
Margins:
Double serrate, Serrulate
Additional Info:
to 16cm long
Inflorescence Type:
Catkin (ament)
Flower Morphology:
Monoecious plant
Number Of Petals:
0
Colour (petals):
Yellow, Brown
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr
Additional Info:
Male catkins pendulous to 10cm long; female catkins erect, to 3-6cm long, with pubescent and marginally ciliate scales 6-13mm long.
Fruit Type:
Samara
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Persistent, Female catkins release many tiny two-winged samaras from summer to late fall
Bark Morphology:
Exfoliating
Bark or Stem Colour:
Yellow, Brown
Leaf Bud Type:
Conical (long-pointed) (Distinctive smell)
Leaf Scar Shape:
Crescent shaped
Organ Modifications:
Ectomycorrhizae
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Caterpillar or cutworm, Sawflies or horntails or ants, Stem borer insects
Specific Pests:
Moderate susceptibility to bronze birch borer
