Yellow or Gray Birch
Betula alleghaniensis (BETULACEAE)
Planting and Growing Yellow Birch Trees
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow yellow or gray birch treesin the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Foliage, catkins, cones, and seeds of yellow or gray birch trees
- Growing conditions for yellow or gray birch
- When to plant yellow or gray birch
- How to plant yellow or gray birch
- How to prune yellow or gray birch
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of yellow or gray birch
- Landscape uses of yellow or gray birch
- Pest and disease control for yellow or gray birch
Growing Yellow Birch Trees
Several cultivars of graceful, fast-growing, short-lived, upright, deciduous trees, to 90 ft. (27 m) tall, with matte, light green, oval, pointed, finely toothed, veined leaves, to 5 in. (13 cm) long, with gray green undersides, turning yellow in autumn. Patterned, red brown, gray, silver gray, yellow bark peels in narrow, thin strips.
Yellow Birch Planting and Care Guide
Catkins, Cones, and Seeds
Insignificant green flowers in spring, borne in catkins, to 2 in. (50 mm) long, form oval cones containing seed, to 1 in. (25 mm) long, in late summer, persisting to winter.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 4–7. Hardy.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich–average. 6.0–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun. Space 10–15 ft. (3–4.5 m) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep evenly moist. Fertilize annually in spring. Prune sparingly in late spring. Propagate by cuttings, layering, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, borders in cottage, meadow, woodland gardens. Seed attracts birds in winter. Borer, leaf miner susceptible.
Common Species and Varieties of Birch
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- Betula albo-sinensis, Chinese paper birch
- Betula alleghaniensis, yellow birch
- Betula davurica, Dahurian birch
- Betula jacquemontii, Indian birch
- Betula lenta, sweet birch
- Betula maximowicziana, monarch birch
- Betula nana, dwarf arctic birch
- Betula nigra, river birch
- Betula occidentalis, water birch
- Betula papyrifera, canoe birch
- Betula pendula, weeping birch
- Betula platyphylla japonica, Japanese birch
- Betula platyphylla szechuanica, Chinese birch
- Betula populifolia, gray birch
About Birch Trees
The Betula genus includes nearly 60 species of graceful, open, broad-leaved, deciduous trees, many with narrow, erect habits and often thin, nodding or weeping branches.
All birch species are native to the northern hemisphere’s temperate zones and are found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. All are hardy and grow best in cold-winter climates.
Birches are prized for their dainty foliage and showy bark. Their leaves emerge bronze, light green, or maroon, become deep green above and silver gray beneath, and turn golden yellow in autumn. Marked and patterned, birch bark is attractively colored in hues from reddish brown to icy silver. Cultivars have been developed with dramatic foliage colors.
Birch are fast-growing, short-lived trees that reach 25–90 ft. (7.5–27 m) tall. A species or cultivar exists for nearly every garden need throughout their climate range.
They are susceptible to birch leaf miner, a pest that causes leaves to turn yellow and prematurely drop, as well as aphid, borers, sawfly, and gypsy moth. Nectaria canker can infect their bark.
Choose from among the popularly cultivated species above.
Planting and Caring for Birch Trees
Birch trees are popular in landscape gardens as ornamental trees that rapidly fill small-space areas, create island plantings in a natural grass planting or manicured lawn, or provide a seasonal screen.
They are broad-leaved, deciduous, and appear constantly in motion due to their long-stemmed leaves which wave and quiver in any breeze. Birches grow in a variety of forms, from those with single, narrow trunks to multitrunked, nearly vining species that retain a shrublike character. They are good trees for coppicing in natural landscapes along streams.
Plant birch trees in moderately rich, moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. Since all landscape trees grow best when planted in unamended soil, test the acid-alkaline balance of your site before you plant. Birches should have soils in the 6.0–7.0 pH range. Choose from those species that fit your climate and site.
When planting a birch, carefully match the depth of the hole to the soil line on the rootball of your tree, taking care to avoid too-deep planting. Backfill around the rootball with native soil and keep the tree well watered until it becomes established and begins to spurt new growth.
Birches are a good choice for seasonal shade and bright autumn foliage color in cold-winter climates, though many species perform well in a variety of conditions. Their care needs include regular raking of fallen catkinlike flowers in spring and leaves in autumn. Birds find their seed attractive during winter.
Small birches are good container trees suited to use on balconies, decks, and patios. Keep birches grown in planters or large containers evenly moist, fertilize them regularly to replace leached nutrients, and protect their roots from sun exposure.