It ranges from southeastern Ontario east to Nova Scotia, and south to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with disjunct populations in Indiana, Virginia, and North Carolina. It is most easily confused for the paper birch (Betula papyrifera) by means of its bark; it is smooth and thin but does not readily exfoliate like paper birch does. The leaves are 5-7.5 cm long by 4–6 cm wide, alternately arranged, ovate, and tapering to an elongated tip. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2001. Corrections? Black Friday Sale! The thin, glossy, dark green, triangular leaves have long, thin stems and flutter in the wind. Threatened and Endangered Information: This plant is listed by the U.S. federal government or a state. Gray birch grows quickly to 20 to 30 feet tall and 15 inch trunk diameter, with an irregular open crown of slender branches. Match your unique style to your budget with a brand new Gray Birch Bar Height (28" 33") Bar Stools to transform the look of your room. to Bronze Birch Borer." Commercial Value: Grey Birch trees are used to make high grade plywood, furniture, drum shells, and for firewood. See also birch. [1] The bark is chalky to grayish white with black triangular patches where branch meets trunk. CT, MA, ME, NH, RI ... Betula populifolia → Betula ×caerulea Blanch. It is also planted as an ornamental in naturalistic landscapes. Nielsen, David G., Vanessa L. Muilenburg, and Daniel A. Herms. gray birch. Gray birch wood is used in turnery and for fuel. Environmental Entomology 40.3 (2011): 648-53. Web. Betula populifolia Marshall – gray birch Subordinate Taxa. "Interspecific Variation in Resistance of Asian, European, and North American Birches (Betula Spp.) It is native primarily from Southeastern Canada to Virginia, with a scattering of plants extending westward to Illinois. It can be grown in planting zones 3 to 9. Weeping Birch Trees . Betula populifolia, commonly called gray birch, is a short-lived, narrow-columnar, suckering, deciduous tree that typically grows to 20-40’ tall.It most often appears in a multi-trunked form, but also grows with a single trunk. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The wood is medium hard and is used for high grade plywood, furniture, drum shells, spools and firewood. This plant has no children Legal Status. BioOne. Although the grey birch exhibits a smooth, thin white bark which can easily be confused with that of the paper birch (Betula papyrifera), it does not readily exfoliate. Gray birch grows quickly to 20 to 30 feet tall and 15 inch trunk diameter, with an irregular open crown of slender branches. Omissions? In addition to its white bark and yellow fall foliage, the form of this tree provides landscaping interest. The tree often has multiple trunks branching off of an old stump. The outer bark resembles that of paper birch but is not so white, peels less, and has rough, triangular, black patches below the junctions of branches and trunk. Harlow & Harrar's Textbook of Dendrology. 25 Sept. 2013. "Grey birch" redirects here. They are dark green and glabrous above and paler below, with a coarsely serrated margin. The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins 5–8 cm long, the male catkins pendulous and the female catkins erect. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Whether you're drawn to sleek modern design or distressed rustic textures, Ashley HomeStore combines the latest trends with … Height of a Birch Tree. is an infrequent birch hybrid often referred to as the blue birch. height: The Gray Birch grows around 20 to 30 feet tall. [2] The leaves of the gray birch serve as food for various Lepidoptera, such as the leaf miner moth Cameraria betulivora. Common names are from state and federal lists. Hardin, James W., Donald Joseph Leopold, and Fred M. White. are prized for their delicate-looking foliage and distinctive bark. Betula populifolia (gray or grey birch) is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America. Between about 1930 and 1950, many gray birch trees, along with paper birch and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), were affected and killed by birch dieback disease.[3]. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The tree often has multiple trunks branching off of an old stump. Gray birch, also spelled Grey Birch, also called Oldfield Birch, Wire Birch, or Poplar-leaved Birch, (Betula populifolia), slender ornamental tree of the family Betulaceae, found in clusters on moist sites in northeastern North America.Rarely 12 m (40 feet) tall, it is covered almost to the ground with flexible branches that form a narrow, pyramidal crown. https://www.britannica.com/plant/gray-birch, Missouri Botanical Garden - Betula populifolia. It prefers poor, dry upland soils, but is also found in moist mixed woodlands. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Noteworthy Characteristics. Gray birch, also spelled Grey Birch, also called Oldfield Birch, Wire Birch, or Poplar-leaved Birch, (Betula populifolia), slender ornamental tree of the family Betulaceae, found in clusters on moist sites in northeastern North America. Gray birch has been commonly planted as a landscaping tree in southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey as it tolerates heat and humidity better than paper birch and is more resistant to bronze birch borers and leaf miners. Print. University of Florida Environmental Horticulture, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Betula_populifolia&oldid=945753781, Trees of the Great Lakes region (North America), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 15 March 2020, at 22:49. It is a tree attaining heights to 20 m with exfoliating cream-white to pink-white bark. Like other North American birches, gray birch is highly resistant to the bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius). Living only about 30 years, it is a common pioneer species on abandoned fields and burned areas. Gray birch often is injured by ice and snow. Premium Membership is now 50% off! Another “white” birch is Young’s weeping birch (Betula pendula Youngii), a dwarf variety that reaches a height of 6 to 12 feet at maturity. Threat/Diseases: The red-brown or gray bark of young stems and branches whitens as the tree matures, becoming red orange on the inner surface. The leaves are 5-7.5 cm long by 4–6 cm wide, alternately arranged, ovate, and tapering to an elongated tip. The fruit of the Gray birch is composed of tiny winged seeds packed between Catkin Bracts. Betula populifolia bark, Vermont, US. Updates? The fruit, maturing in autumn, is composed of many tiny winged seeds packed between the catkin bracts. Birch trees (Betula spp.) Quick growing but short-lived, it seeds prolifically, providing burned or abandoned areas with a ground cover that protects the seedlings of more permanent trees. Rarely 12 m (40 feet) tall, it is covered almost to the ground with flexible branches that form a narrow, pyramidal crown. For the moth, see. In one variety, the leaves are purplish when young. Betula populifolia leaves, New Brunswick, Canada.