(Chinese Red Birch)

A rather large deciduous tree that has a rounded to conical habit, the Chinese red birch is mainly grown for its ornamental bark. Bark ranges from pinkish brown to copper or orange-red and peels away in thin sheets, revealing a smooth white to gray underlayer. The outer bark layer also is covered in a white powdery bloom, especially when young. This plant is native to central and western China.

In early spring tiny flowers appear in pendulous catkins that droop from the branches. The leaves emerge...

(Yellow Birch)

A metallic amber-brown bark that peels away is the all-season highlight of the yellow birch. This deciduous tree is dense and cone-shaped in its youth, eventually maturing with a rounded to irregular habit after three decades. Yellow birch is native to the cool, moist soils of eastern North America.

The dull, dark green leaves are pointed ovals with fine teeth on the margins. Leaf undersides are a lighter shade. In early spring, just as leaves emerge, catkins don the branches. Male catkins are...

(Monarch Birch)

Pretty bark, massive leaves and excellent/reliable golden fall foliage color are prized attributes of the monarch birch. This rather fast-growing deciduous tree is native to Russia's Kurile Islands and Japan. It has an open habit when young but becomes quite stiff and upright - more so than other birch species - at maturity.

Monarch birch's bark is orange or pink-tinged bark that becomes grayish white. It peels away in horizontal strips. Another key identification feature are the leaves. They...

(River Birch)

River birch is a handsome, often multi-stemmed, fast growing tree that is native to the central and southeastern United States. Its most notable ornamental feature is its beautiful peeling bark that appears in mixed shades on white, rust-orange, gray and brown. Like other birches, it has elongated catkins, which appear in spring, and its medium-green leaves turn a dirty yellow in the fall. Its seeds ripen in late spring, much earlier than other birch species.

This tree is a wise selection for...

(Dura-Heat® River Birch, River Birch)

Dura-heat river birch is a handsome, often multi-stemmed, fast growing tree that is native to the southeastern and central United States. Its most notable ornamental feature is beautiful peeling bark that appears in mixed shades of salmon to cinnamon exposing a creamy-white inner bark. Dura-Heat ('Bnmtf') river birch has a pyramidal shape, dark green, diamond-shaped, double-toothed leaves and is quite heat tolerant. Dura-Heat is a bit more compact than other river birches but still matures to a...

(Heritage™ River Birch, River Birch)

Heritage river birch is a handsome single or multi-stemmed, fast growing tree that is native to the central United States. Its most notable ornamental feature is its beautiful peeling bark that appears in mixed shades of rust-orange and brown. It has elongated catkins (pendant flower stalks) which appear in spring. Small cones with winged seeds follow in the late summer and fall. The larger-than-usual, glossy, medium-green leaves are diamond-shaped and have a double-toothed margin. The foliage turns...

(Little King River Birch)

Little King river birch, also marketed as the Fox Valley birch, is a handsome multi-stemmed, fast growing tree that is native to the central United States. Its most notable ornamental feature is its beautiful peeling bark that appears in mixed shades of rust-orange and brown. Like other birches, it has elongated catkins, which appear in spring, and its medium-green leaves turn a dirty yellow in the fall. One problem with river birch is its tendency to drop many fine branches on the ground, especially...

(Black Birch, River Birch, Tecumseh Compact River Birch)

Developed by Studebaker Nurseries in New Carlise, Ohio, Tecumseh compact river birch is a handsome multi-stemmed, fast growing tree whose parentage can be traced to the central United States. Its most notable ornamental feature is its beautiful peeling bark that appears in mixed shades of rust-orange and brown. It has elongated catkins, which appear in spring, and its glossy green leaves turn bright yellow in the fall. One problem with river birch is its tendency to drop many fine branches on the...

(Black Birch, River Birch, Summer Cascade River Birch)

A selection of river birch, ‘Summer Cascade’ is a pendulous, fast growing, deciduous tree selected from a species native to the central United States. Its most notable ornamental feature is its beautiful flaking, peeling bark that mingles many shades of tan, rust-orange and brown. Like other birches, it has elongated catkins that appear in spring, and its dark green leaves turn bright yellow in the fall. One problem with river birch is its tendency to drop many fine branches, especially after storms....

(Common Birch, European White Birch, Silver Birch)

European white birch is a softly pyramidal tree when young, becoming more rounded at maturity with graceful arching branches. This high-altitude native of northern Europe and Asia features beautiful white, exfoliating bark and deeply-cut, lacy leaves. Small greenish catkins appear in the spring and are quite eye-catching.

European white birch is tolerant of both wet and dry soils in full sun. This handsome tree has been used extensively in the cool-climate park landscapes. However, its use is...