Scientific Name: Betula alleghaniensis
Common Name: yellow birch
Family Name: Betulaceae
Origin: Canada - eastern, U.S. - northeast
Hardiness Zone: Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Plant Type: Tree - deciduous
Mature Size: 22 - 30m x 7 - 10m (height x width)
Habit: Upright
Form: Pyramidal - widely
Texture: Medium
Landscape Uses: Erosion control, Woodland margin
Exposure: Full sun
Soil or Media: Well-drained
Leaves: Simple, Alternate, Soft flexible, Pinnate venation, Glabrous, Ovate, Double serrate, Serrulate
Flowers: Catkin (ament), Yellow, Brown, Apr
Fruit: Samara, Brown, Jul-Aug-Sep-Oct, (Persistent)
Key ID Features:
Variable species but most with yellowish exfoliating bark (peals off horizontally), becoming grayish with age; leaves 6-12(-16) x 4-9cm, ovate and double-serrate; twigs orange-brown. Winter ID: exfoliating yellowish bark; twigs slender, pubescent; lateral buds conical, pubescent, each scale two shades of brown, wintergreen flavour when chewed; immature catkins.