Scientific Name: Betula populifolia

Identification

• Gray Birch tree leaves are 2-3 inches long and grow in an elongated triangle shape. The leaves have serrated edges and are normally bright green in color. The leaves turn yellow in the Fall.
• Mature trees have smooth, grayish-white bark
• Young trees have reddish-brown bark.
• Smaller trees, usually only growing to about 30’ in height
• Several trunks can sprout from one root group, so the tree can sometimes appear like a small thicket

Status

• Native

Interesting Facts

• When an area suffers some sort of disturbance, such as logging, gray birch are often some of the first trees to come back
• Historically, Native Americans prized gray birches, using its bark as both a compress for wounds, and as building materials
• Many animals love to eat gray birches, such as porcupines, beavers, songbirds, bunnies, and deer

References

Gilman, H., Watson, D. (1993). Betula populifolia. Retrieved from http://hort.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/betpopa.pdf

Seiler, J., Jensen, E., Niemieria, A., Peterson, J. (2016). Gray Birch. Retrieved from http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=16

Wennerberg, S. (2004). Gray Birch. Retrieved from https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_bepo.pdf

Image Credits 

Gray Birch: "Betula populifolia" by John Barber is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Leaves: "Betula populifolia leaves" by Richtid licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Image cropped. Cropped image licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Bark: "Gray-Birch-Bark" by Homer Edward Price licensed under CC BY 2.0. Image cropped