Paper Birch - Betula papyrifera

Phonetic: BET-yoo-luh pap-ih-RIFF-er-uh

Trees in pots are unavailable for shipment

1 Gallon Pot - 3-4'

Paper birch is a deciduous tree native to northern North America. It prefers full sun and grows best in moist to medium soil, though it can tolerate poorer or rockier conditions. Paper birch is an early-successional species, meaning it often colonizes areas that have been recently disturbed by fire, logging, or storms. Its fast growth and light-colored bark allow it to outcompete slower-growing trees in open, sunny areas, though it is less shade-tolerant and tends to decline as forests mature and close in overhead canopy.

Paper birch blooms in spring, typically from April to June. It produces separate male and female flowers on the same tree—male catkins hang in clusters and female catkins that stand upright. Pollination occurs via the wind rather than by insects. By late summer to early autumn, the female catkins mature into cylindrical cones that break apart to release numerous small, winged seeds which are dispersed by the wind.

 Paper Birch plays a vital ecological role. It is a host plant for several species of butterfly and moth, such as the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and the Mourning Cloak. Its seeds provide food for small birds such as finches and chickadees, while its twigs and bark are browsed by moose, deer, and snowshoe hares. The tree’s bark, which peels in thin white sheets, is resistant to decay and provides habitat for fungi, lichens, and insects. Although wind-pollinated, the tree still supports pollinator populations indirectly by offering shelter and habitat diversity within forest communities.

• Hardiness Zone: 2-7
• Native Region: BONAP Map
• BONAP Map Key Color Guide: Map Color Key
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun 
• Flower Color: Brown, Green
• Bloom Time: April, May
• Soil Type: Medium - Moist
• Mature Plant Size: 50-70'H, 25-45'W
• Plant Spacing: 15-20'
• Host Plant: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Mourning Cloak 
• Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Birds
• Advantages: Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant,  
• Landscape Uses: Borders, 
• Companion Plants: Lady Fern, Foam Flower, Wild Ginger, Virginia Blue Bells