Preserve Districts in Lake and Cook County to see if any of their staff specialists can help you locate some stands of paper birch as I believe there are some native stands along the dunes and in Lake County. Lots of lenticels . Paper birch (Betula papyrifera): Also known as canoe birch, silver birch, or white birch, this is the species more widely recognized as the iconic birch. • Paper Birch Tree - Photo by Paul Wray, Iowa State University. Paper birch has a thin, white bark that will peel, or exfoliate, in long strips. You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store. Paper birch is often one of the first species to colonize a burned area within the northern latitudes, and is an important species for moose browsing. Habitat: Found growing on steep north facing slopes and protected rocky bluffs. Will tolerate a range of soils. The slender twigs are orange-brown to dull red in color and have the characteristic aromatic birch odor and taste. Paper birch is named for the tree's thin white bark, which often peels in paper like layers from the trunk. Paper Birch Fruit - Photos by Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Paper Birch Twig - Photo by Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Paper Birch Leaf - Photo by Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Paper Birch Flowers - Photo by Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, ISU Extension and Outreach They are rather thick in texture and dull green on the upper side and yellowish green on the lower side. Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) is also known as white birch or canoe birch. At the base of old trunks the bark becomes blackish and furrowed. Betula papyrifera (paper birch, also known as (American) white birch and canoe birch ) is a short-lived species of birch native to northern North America. Cloudflare Ray ID: 5fa095c94801d147 Yellow birch has bronze colored bark that curls up in small strips on the tree. Ranging from 40 feet tall to 70 feet tall. https://www.gardenguides.com/94756-birch-leaf-identification.html River birch has a scaly gray-black bark on older trees. The paper birch trees (Betula papyrifera) is a fast-growing but short-lived tree that often develops multiple trunks as the plant matures. Its chalky white color distinguished this tree from all others in the forest. 339 Science II Paper birch occurs on moist wooded slopes and along streams. It is found principally in the northeast part of Iowa, extending southwestward to Eldora. In its native environment, it can be found in forest borders across the northern and central U.S. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. In the paper birch, for example, these layers peel away in horizontal, curly strips. Paper birch occurs on moist wooded slopes and along … Your IP: 212.112.2.40 Cherry Birch (Betula lenta) Cherry birch is a large tree that grows from a single main trunk. Width: Varies with species from 35 feet wide to 60 feet wide. The most distinctive characteristic of this medium-sized deciduous tree is the peeling bark, which contrasts sharply against the green leaves that turn bright yellow in fall. It has a clear, straight trunk and thin, rounded crown. The oval or heart-shaped leaves are pointed at the apex, rounded at the base and are irregularly double toothed. The heavily layered bark peels off in large sheets. Shiny, red … Height: Varies with the species of birch tree. It is a showy tree in the woods with its white bark. Blueleaf birch has whitish bark that will not peel, but with a reddish tint to it. If not, you may have to extend up into Wisconsin to find some paper birch. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. Paper birch is not a large tree in Iowa and is used primarily for ornamental plantings. Site Requirements: Best planted in full sun, with moist, well-drained soils. Height 65' to 70', diameter 14" to 20"; twigs dull orange or red during first winter, later become brown; open crown; grows singly or in clusters. Copyright © 2020 Iowa State University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.