Betula populifolia (gray or grey birch) is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2001. About gray birch. Bright green leaves turn a yellow fall color. BioOne. It ranges from southeastern Ontario east to Nova Scotia, and south to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with disjunct populations in Indiana, Virginia, and North Carolina. Between about 1930 and 1950, many gray birch trees, along with paper birch and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), were affected and killed by birch dieback disease.[3]. 25 Sept. 2013. This tree is noted for (1) its non-peeling chalky white bark with dark chevron trunk patches appearing below each branch base and (…
It can be propagated by sowing seed in the fall or soft stem cutting in the summer. The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins 5–8 cm long, the male catkins pendulous and the female catkins erect. Range& Habitat:Gray Birch is a rare native tree inIllinois, whereit is found in the NE section of the state (see DistributionMap). It is native primarily from Southeastern Canada to Virginia, with a scattering of plants extending westward to Illinois. Living only about 30 years, it is a common pioneer species on abandoned fields and burned areas. A good selection for poor soils and other difficult sites, it also demonstrates some resistance to bronze birch borer (BBB). Official websites use .gov
It typically occurs in both dry and wet soils. It prefers poor, dry upland soils, but is also found in moist mixed woodlands. Mature Height: commonly 20-30′ tall with fast growth rate. Betula populifolia, commonly called gray birch, is a short-lived, narrow-columnar, suckering, deciduous tree that typically grows to 20-40 tall. "Interspecific Variation in Resistance of Asian, European, and North American Birches (Betula Spp.) ... Current Little's Range and Importance Value (IV) Maps. Older trees develop a chalky white bark that does not peel. It also tolerates poor soils. Betula populifolia leaves, New Brunswick, Canada. : Dispersal Environment habitat specificity, Fire topkill Shade tolerance Insect pests Disease, Current Forest Inventory and Analysis under Current Conditions, Photos of gray birch in USDA Plants Database, DISTRIB-II: habitat suitability of eastern United States trees. Soil/Climate: Gray birch is native to eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Living only about 30 years, it is a common pioneer species on abandoned fields and burned areas. Zones: 3-7. They are dark green and glabrous above and paler below, with a coarsely serrated margin. Somepopulations of Gray Birch in Illinois may be naturalized descendants ofcultivated trees. Print. Gray birch grows quickly to 20 to 30 feet tall and 15 inch trunk diameter, with an irregular open crown of slender branches. The fruit, maturing in autumn, is composed of many tiny winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
Gray birch is narrowly distributed (1.4% of area), sparse, low IV species largely confined to New England. [1] The bark is chalky to grayish white with black triangular patches where branch meets trunk. "Grey birch" redirects here. Its model, of low reliability, shows a slight decrease in habitat (but still classed as 'No change'), and with a moderate adaptability and rare occurrence, we rate it with a poor capability to cope. Gray birch is a narrow, pyramidal tree of cool climates. Gray birch has been commonly planted as a landscaping tree in southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey as it tolerates heat and humidity better than paper birch and is more resistant to bronze birch borers and leaf miners.
Like other North American birches, gray birch is highly resistant to the bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius). An official website of the United States government. Although the grey birch exhibits a smooth, thin white bark which can easily be confused with that of the paper birch (Betula papyrifera), it does not readily exfoliate.
Other common names:Gray Birch. to Bronze Birch Borer." A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. It is most easily confused for the paper birch (Betula papyrifera) by means of its bark; it is smooth and thin but does not readily exfoliate like paper birch does. This plant has no children Legal Status. A lock (
Hardin, James W., Donald Joseph Leopold, and Fred M. White. The tree casts light shade on understory plants and has shallow roots. Harlow & Harrar's Textbook of Dendrology. You can view the previous gray birch page, or browse the previous Tree Atlas. Common names are from state and federal lists. The tree often has multiple trunks branching off of an old stump. Web. The leaves are 5-7.5 cm long by 4–6 cm wide, alternately arranged, ovate, and tapering to an elongated tip. Betula populifolia bark, Vermont, US. The wood is medium hard and is used for high grade plywood, furniture, drum shells, spools and firewood. MODFACsWhat traits will impact gray birch's ability to adapt to climate change, and in what way? [2] The leaves of the gray birch serve as food for various Lepidoptera, such as the leaf miner moth Cameraria betulivora. It most often appears in a multi-trunked form, but also grows with a single trunk. Threatened and Endangered Information: This plant is listed by the U.S. federal government or a state. Family: Betulaceae. For the moth, see. IV with Range (Entire Range) IV with Range (Eastern USA & Canada) IV without Range (Eastern USA & Canada) Niche Maps. Nielsen, David G., Vanessa L. Muilenburg, and Daniel A. Herms. It ranges from southeastern Ontario east to Nova Scotia, and south to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with disjunct populations in Indiana, Virginia, and North Carolina. Guild: pioneer, dry or wet site tolerant, short lived, Functional Lifeform: small deciduous tree. Gray birch prefers sunlight and is shade intolerant. It prefers poor, dry upland soils, but is also found in moist mixed woodlands. In St. Louis, gray birch is best grown in medium to wet, well-drained, sandy or rocky loams in full sun to part shade. Betula grossa, or Japanese Cherry Birch, is a conical-shaped tree with cherry-like bark that turn dark grey. Betula populifolia Marshall – gray birch Subordinate Taxa. Click on a place name to get a complete protected plant list for that location. It is not tolerant of flooding of any long duration. It seems to tolerate drier soils in its native range. Environmental Entomology 40.3 (2011): 648-53. ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. University of Florida Environmental Horticulture, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Betula_populifolia&oldid=945753781, Trees of the Great Lakes region (North America), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 15 March 2020, at 22:49. LockA locked padlock
Rarely 12 m (40 feet) tall, it is covered almost to the ground with flexible branches that form a narrow, pyramidal crown.