Shade and Ornamental Trees: Betula (Birch)
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Betula jacquemontii
Whitebarked Himalayan Birch (aka Betula utilis var. jacquemontii) is a tall, narrow tree with dark green leaves and upright branches. Peeling bark is shiny and pure creamy white with tan underside. Shows some resistance to birch leaf miner. Fall leaf colour is yellow. Peeling White Bark
Betula nigra 'Dura Heat'
Dura-Heat is a pyramidal River Birch with glossy, dark green foliage closely spaced with a butter yellow fall colour. More tolerant of heat and drought than other River Birches. Young trunks and branches have stunning creamy-white, salmon to cinnamon-brown-orange exfoliating bark that reveals creamy white inner bark that can be nearly as white as the white-barked birches. Holds onto yellow fall foliage much longer than Heritage. Resistant to bronze birch borer & Japanese beetle. Exfoliating Bark
Betula nigra 'Heritage'
Heritage River Birch (Betula nigra 'Cully') is a popular River Birch selected for its beautiful exfoliating creamy bark exposing cream, orange and pinkish tan patches of inner bark. It is resistant to the birch bark borer and considered heat tolerant. Best in moist, acid soils but will adapt to dry conditions. Exfoliating Bark
Betula papyrifera
Canoe or Paper Birch has a large, irregular oval crown with dark green foliage. Young branches have reddish-brown bark with large horizontal lenticels. As the tree ages, probably after about 4 seasons, the bark will become chalk white and peels off in papery layers, exposing orange inner bark. Very mature trunks will have rough, black patches and it is probably the whitest barked native birch! Very attractive as multi-stem or single stem tree. Stems slow to turn chalky white but well worth the wait. Good yellow fall colour.
Betula platyphylla 'Dakota Pinnacle' ('Fargo')
Dakota Pinnacle Asian White Birch is an introduction of the University of North Dakota with an upright columnar to narrowly pyramidal form. Bark changes colour as it matures from gray-orange or orange-white to a somewhat exfoliating white papery bark at maturity. Bright green, glossy foliage turns dark and semi glossy as it hardens and turns deep yellow in fall. Foliage is retained into late fall! It is heat and drought tolerant once established. Tolerant of urban conditions. Shows good pest/disease resistance (incl borer) Mature bark is pure white, smooth
Betula pendula
European White Birch has a pyramidal oval crown with a graceful, pendulous, branching habit. Dark glossy green leaves giving way to yellow fall colour. Brownish bark on young branches, changing to white. Maturing trunk will have many black fissures. Does not exfoliate to the degree of Betula papyrifera. Not heat or drought tolerant.
Betula papyrifera 'Renaissance Reflection'
Renaissance Reflection is a Paper Birch selection with a high heat tolerance and a good bronze birch borer resistance. Upright, pyramidal form. Creamy-white bark and yellow fall foliage.
Betula populifolia 'Whitespire'
Whitespire is a pyramidal Gray Birch with chalk white bark. Tolerant of high temperatures but don't let the soil dry out. Also tolerant of urban pollution and resistant to bronze birch borer. Has more resistance to leaf miner than either Betula pendula or Betula papyrifera. Was previously listed as platyphylla japonica var. 'Whitespire'.