Whitespire birch, like most birch, prefers a wet, sheltered location. River birch is a fast-growing, deciduous semi-aquatic tree that reaches between 50 and 90 feet in height. Leaves are glossy, dark green turning yellowish-green in fall. Grow these two trees if you live in Canada or the northern tier of U.S. states (planting zones 2 to 6). Birch tar was used widely as an adhesive as early as the Middle Paleolithic to early Mesolithic era. The ornamental bark does not peel. Featuring an elegant, pyramidal habit, it bears ovate, toothed, lime-green leaves, 3 in. Ornamental Features. They are native to this region, and they prefer its cool temperatures. Betula utilis ‘Madison’ White … My problem is one of the trees I believe went into early Hibernation, it lost all of its leaves, 3 to 4 weeks before the other two trees last fall. There was one silver birch outside 65 Rugby St which was Betula utilis. Compounds. A tall tree (60 to 80 feet) with a spread of about 30 feet, it has yellow fall foliage. I would like to know which is better a paper birch or river birch. However, the leaves of river birch will become chlorotic (turn yellow) if grown in alkaline soils, which dominate our state. jacquemontii (Himalayan Birch), which is prized for its brilliant and exceptionally white bark, is a lovely addition to the landscape. Himalayan birch, Chinese paper birch and Monarch birch are all occasionally used. But gray birch trees grow in clumps, producing multiple trunks, and their bark, which does not peel, is not especially attractive. Birch trees ( Betula ) are graceful, undemanding trees in the appropriate setting and can thrive for 30 years to 300 years. If a white birch has a resonable prospect of doing well, is there a white species that you recommend for central Illinois? Its fall foliage color is yellow. Maybe you've admired the pretty deciduous tree 3 blocks over. Their height and spread are similar to that of river birch trees. Betula x Royal Frost – Royal Frost Birch Whitespire Birch has dark green foliage throughout the season. It has a wonderful yellow fall color. But do not settle for trees alone when it comes to growing plants for fall color, because there are plenty of shrubs and vines with fall color that gives you additional choices (in fact, being smaller, such plants may be better suited to small yards). This native birch supports wildlife by supplying nesting sites and cover. Paper birch bark peels off the tree in long, narrow strips and exposes an inner bark that is orange in color. I have 3 Whitespire Birch clumps (Betula Platyhylla) that I planted about 8 years ago. Its parent, Betula pendula, is the European white birch. The trees' peeling bark is as attractive as the fall foliage. It is composed of phenols such as guaiacol, cresol, xylenol, and creosol.. The plant grows to be 40 to 50 feet tall, with a spread of 35 to 45 feet. Whitespire Birch has a nice narrow, pyramidal size and a chalky white bark that looks great all season long. Most importantly, sweet birch bears a more reliably strong, golden-yellow fall foliage than most other birches (whose autumn leaves sometimes lapse into paler yellows). One nursery had only red birches and told us white birches do not do well. 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. Some 60 different species of birch exist on the planet, but less than a dozen or so are common to North America. It is only after trimming river birch and other varieties that you will be … Make sure to plant this tree where soil is likely to remain cool. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. Make sure to plant this tree where soil is likely to remain cool. 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