Family
Betulaceae
Botanical Name
BETULA populifolia 'Whitespire'
Plant Common Name
Gray Birch, Whitespire Gray Birch
General Description
After thirty years of trials, 'Whitespire' has proven to be quite resistant to the bronze birch borer that plagues its parent species, the grey birch. The parent hails from New England into Nova Scotia, inhabiting large tracts of forest, but also growing in association with swamps, bogs, streams and other wetlands. The upright trunk of ‘Whitespire’ is typically single, with horizontal branches and beautiful whitish bark streaked with gray markings, an eye-catching sight in winter when the tree is bare.
The leaves are long, serrated and green, and hang gracefully on the finely spotted dark twigs. At the end of the season, they turn yellow. This birch blooms in spring with long, slender catkins that appear before the leaves, creating a beautiful scrim in the early garden.
This tree is quite useful due to its shade tolerance. Planted with needled evergreens, it stands out vividly in winter against their dark backdrop. In the wild, it prefers to live in groves, while in the garden it is typically planted in groups so that the narrow canopies can better shade the root zone. It’s also a problem solver for wet grounds where less water tolerant trees fail. However, beware of planting close to water or sewer lines as this is an avid moisture seeker.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
6 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
3 - 6
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Plant Type
Tree
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
30'-40' / 9.1m - 12.2m
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Width
15'-30' / 4.6m - 9.1m
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Bloom Time
Early Spring
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Native To
Northeastern United States
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Tan
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Yellow
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Bark Color
White, Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
Yes