Betula alleghaniensis

Yellow Birch

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General

In colonial times stories would filter back of immensely large yellow birch in the backcountry. These giants are gone, but one can still occasionally find 100 footers. In years to come we hopefully will find individuals to rival those colonial giants. Much is made from the wood of yellow birch, including furniture and farm implements. It was especially prized by boat builders of yore for parts below the waterline. Yellow birch is consumed by deer, moose and snowshoe hare. Seeds are eaten by a variety of songbirds, and ruffed grouse eat seeds, catkins, and buds. Beaver and porcupine chew the bark. Valuable species for butterflies and moths.

Plant Description

Yellow Birch has the largest leaves of our northeastern birches, with leaves 3-5 inches long, widest at middle, pointed tip, somewhat round base, and hairy young leaves. The terminal buds are slightly hairy/peach fuzzy, and the twigs have a slight wintergreen taste (but not as strong as that of Betula lenta/Sweet Birch). Bark peels horizontally in curly strips.

Height (ft)

75 (Occasionally up to 100)

Spread (ft)

Up to 100'

Soil moisture

Medium

Soil types

Coarse to fine in texture

Wetland indicator

FAC

Shade tolerance

Full Sun-Part Shade

Bloom color

Yellow, Inconspicuous

Bloom period

Late Spring

Fall conspicuous

No

Anaerobic tolerance

Low

Drought tolerance

Medium

Salinity tolerance

Medium

Self-Pollinating?

Yes

Range

Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick west through southern Ontario to south east Manitoba; south to Minnesota and northeast Iowa; east to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania to northern New Jersey, New York and New England; and south through the Appalachian Mountains.

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Additional Information

According to BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database, a compound decoction of the inner bark has been taken as a diuretic. The wood has been used as timber wood and the bark has been used for building and birch bark canoes. The bark has also been used to make dishes, storage containers, rice baskets, trays, etc.