In the open, the crown is large and wide, while in … If the bark of yellow birch twigs is scraped, it … Hardiness zone 3b. Before leaves appear i… 4.5 out of 5 stars (161) 161 reviews $ 20.35 FREE shipping Add to Favorites Yellow Birch Tubes, 7 golden brown tubes, various lengths, but approximately two inches diameter Statcommander. Both yellow birch and sweet birch have nearly identical leaf shape and both give an odor of wintergreen when crushed. Betula alleghaniensis, the yellow birch or golden birch, is a large and important lumber species of birch native to North-eastern North America. The tree forms small yellow blossoms in spring which become attractive catkins. Grows well over a range of soil pH from acid to alkaline.Performs best in areas where summers are cool. [24], Yellow birch is often associated with eastern hemlock throughout its range due to their similar preferences in habitat. It is a widely ranging Midwest and Eastern tree with a range that extends north to Newfoundland where it grows best in moist environments. It grows soil pH ranging from 4-8. This bark is a luminescent gold tone with fringed edges that creates an abundance of texture and depth. [10], Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) exerts allelopathic effects on seedlings of yellow birch and decreases their growth ability. This species is native to the Chicago region according to Swink and Wilhelm's Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current research. Bark is slightly peeling. use escape to move to top level menu parent. [22] Oil of wintergreen can be distilled from the bark. It displays amazing bright yellow and gold leaves and is classified as one of the largest hardwoods in northeastern North America. Separate male and female flowers on the same tree (monoecious).Male flowers are tiny and held in hanging catkins; female flowers held in upright catkins. [8] The optimum age for seed production is about 70 years. The pale green twigs are slightly aromatic. The black birch is arguably among the top desirable firewood choices of all wood types. Natural Areas Conservation Training Program, Black walnut toxicity (plants tolerant of), Preventing construction damage to trees and shrubs, Trees and shrubs for the four seasons landscape, Sudden Oak Death, Ramorum Blight and Phytophthora ramorum, Eastern United States Wetlands Collection. There are over a dozen species of birch trees native to North America, but the most common are white birch, yellow birch, and black birch. Like most birches, yellow birch wood rots quickly due to its tendency to trap moisture. It is easily recognized by the yellowish-bronze exfoliating bark for … [8] Yellow birch saplings will not establish in full shade (under a closed canopy) so they typically need disturbances in a forest in order to establish and grow. The ranges do overlap in Appalachia where they commonly grow together, but sweet birch does not grow west of Ohio or north into Canada whereas yellow birch does. On older trunks, the smooth bark of the younger tree begins to break open and curl back, with the bark peeling in thin horizontal strips. [14] Additionally, the type specimen of Betula excelsa was found not to be a yellow birch, making Betula alleghaniensis the oldest and correct replacement name for the illegitimate B. It mostly grows from 0–500 m in elevation but may grow up to 1000 m.[8] It reaches its maximum importance in the transition zone between low elevation deciduous forests and high elevation spruce and fir forests. Among the largest of birches, yellow birch grows to 30 m (100 feet) on cool, moist bottomlands and on drier soils to elevations of 1,950 m. On limbs and young trunks the silvery yellow bark peels in paper-thin curls; on old trunks it is red-brown, deeply grooved, and broken into irregular plates. Tea can also be made from the twigs and inner bark. Mature trees typically start producing seeds at about 40 years but may start as young as 20. Our communities. Scratch and then sniff a black or yellow birch twig, and the pleasant aroma will likely put a smile on your face. Broken twigs have a wintergreen smell. Our trees. The Yellow birch tree in autumn, Betula alleghaniensis, Helsinki, Finland, Europe. When the sap is boiled down, the wintergreen evaporates and leaves a syrup not unlike maple syrup. Its wood is relatively strong, close grained, and heavy. The Yellow Birch is a stately large tree with dramatic coloring. The common name – Yellow Birch – refers to the color of the bark. It is a medium-sized, typically single stemmed, deciduous tree reaching 60–80 feet (18–24 m) tall (exceptionally to 100 ft (30 m))[2][6] with a trunk typically 2–3 ft (0.61–0.91 m) in diameter, making it the largest North American species of birch. The bark of a young yellow birch is a dark reddish brown, but when the tree reaches maturity, the bark becomes more of a shiny yellow-brown color. The sap can also be used as is in birch syrup or may be flavored. [31], Species of flowering plant in the birch family Betulaceae, Hoffman, W.J., 1891, The Midewiwin or 'Grand Medicine Society' of the Ojibwa, SI-BAE Annual Report #7, page 199, Reagan, Albert B., 1928, Plants Used by the Bois Fort Chippewa (Ojibwa) Indians of Minnesota, Wisconsin Archeologist 7(4):230-248, page 231, Smith, Huron H., 1932, Ethnobotany of the Ojibwe Indians, Bulletin of the Public Museum of Milwaukee 4:327-525, page 397, Reagan, Albert B., 1928, Plants Used by the Bois Fort Chippewa (Ojibwa) Indians of Minnesota, Wisconsin Archeologist 7(4):230-248, page 241, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T194255A2306701.en, "Trees of the Adirondacks: Yellow Birch, Betula alleghaniensis", "Betula alleghaniensis Yellow Birch, Swamp Birch", "Conservation Plant Characteristics for ScientificName (CommonName) USDA PLANTS", Southern Research Station (www.srs.fs.fed.us), "The names of yellow birch and two of its varieties", "Plants Profile for Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch)", "Butterflies in Your Backyard | NC State University", "Allelopathic Relationship between Yellow Birch and Sugar Maple Seedlings", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Betula_alleghaniensis&oldid=997272933, Flora of the Great Lakes region (North America), Natural history of the Great Smoky Mountains, Plants used in traditional Native American medicine, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 30 December 2020, at 19:41. Seedlings of the two species can be very hard to tell apart. [10] Broad-winged hawks show a preference for nesting in yellow birch in New York. The standard office door in the US is a veneer of yellow birch (ca. Yellow Birch. French name: Bouleau jaune Synonym(s): Swamp birch Taxonomic Serial Number: 19481 509506 [syn. They often appear in pairs, but these pairs are really borne on spur-like, two-leaved, lateral branchlets. C-Value: 10This species is native to more northern climates (the Chicago region is in the southern edge of this tree's range in the Midwest).It is often found in moist sites and on cool slopes. Shows some resistance to the bronze birch borer.Tolerant of black walnut toxicity. Yellow birch can grow to be one of our largest deciduous trees, reaching a height of 21 m (70 ft) and up to .9 m (3 ft) in diameter. [14], The specific epithet alleghaniensis means "of the Allegheny Mountains". Woodsmen rely on the ability of yellow and paper birch bark to burn even when wet. Our future. If I said 30 million, I’d be confident of reasonable accuracy. [8], In the past, yellow birch has been used for distilling wood alcohol, acetate of lime and for tar and oils. [6][3] The Ojibwe make a compound decoction from the inner bark and take it as a diuretic. Leaves are simple and alternate, with an ovate shape.Each leaf is 3 to 5 inches long, with a doubly-toothed margin.Fall color is yellow. Within a submenu, use escape to move to top level menu parent. [7], B. alleghaniensis prefers to grow in cooler conditions and is often found on north facing slopes, swamps, stream banks, and rich woods. Betula alleghaniensis, or Yellow Birch is a medium to large deciduous tree with a single trunk of up to 3 feet 6 inches and an overall height that can reach 70 to 80 feet tall. Due to the thin bark and lack of ability to resprout, it is easily killed by wildfire. Have tree and plant questions? Yellow birch and white birch are the two most commonly found in woodworking. On older trunks the smooth bark breaks open and curls back in thin plates. The yellow birch, or swamp birch, is identified by its silver-yellow smooth bark. [15] Later, the name Betula lutea was determined illegitimate as it was superfluous to the older name that Michaux had listed as a synonym, Betula excelsa Aiton (1789). The bark of yellow birch is unique. [23], Several species of Lepidoptera including the mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) and dreamy duskywing (Erynnis icelus) feed on B. alleghaniensis as caterpillars. Shiny yellow or silver-grey bark with narrow horizontal lines, peeling into curly strips; Bark highly varied from tree to tree ; Distribution & Uses. Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) is a striking tree: golden, metallic bark shines among the greys and browns of other trees. Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) is the most valuable of the native birches. To differentiate the two, the range, buds, or bark must be examined. This species shows some resistance to bronze birch borer. [13] In 1904, Nathaniel Lord Britton described what he considered to be a new closely related species of birch as Betula alleghaniensis, differing from B. lutea by its shorter fruiting scales and mostly cordate (vs. rarely cordate) leaf bases. Its leaves turn a brilliant golden yellow in fall, and its shiny bark peels and offers gorgeous texture. In addition, its bark is a shiny yellow to gray-silver that turns into reddish brown as it ages. Easily recognized by its metallic-looking bark with numerous papery curls and strips, the forest-grown yellow birch attains 60-70' heights and 3' diameters. This species shows some resistance to bronze birch borer. Betulaceae -- Birch family. Birch is a native hardwood that comes from the genus Betula. It is the largest species of birch in North America. Prefers cool, moist areas, such as mountain ravines; Distribution includes Manitoba, Newfoundland, extreme Northeastern United States, and the Northern Midwestern States Most wood sold as birch in North America is from this tree. Situated in a wide range across the northern U.S. and Canada, yellow birch grows best in rich, moist woodlands by rivers and streams. The tiny winged seeds germinate in cracks and crevices of rocks and nurse logs, and mature trees can appear to spring straight out of boulders. Yellow birch has diffuse-porous heartwood that is golden-brown to light reddish-brown in colour. Yellow Birch. As it ages the bark starts to curl back giving it a unique appearance. [2], The yellow birch was first described by François André Michaux in 1812 as Betula lutea. What you are smelling is oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate). Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. Fruits are small winged seeds packed together into an upright structure that will shatter in winter. Birches were among the first trees to become established after the glaciers receded. [16] In addition to "yellow" or "golden" birch, B. alleghaniensis has also been called gray birch, silver birch, tall birch, and swamp birch, though it shares several of these names with other Betula species. For young trees where bark has not yet developed, yellow birch can also be identified by its hairy buds and stems; sweet birch has hairless buds. Fall color is yellow. The Morton Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on the generosity of members and donors. The Yellow Birch tree is the most frequently used birch for lumber. [6][22] It does not grow well in dry regions or regions with hot summers and will often last only 30-50 years in such conditions. Betula alleghaniensis is the provincial tree of Quebec, where it is commonly called merisier, a name which in France is used for the wild cherry. I can only guess how many of these doors have been installed in office buildings and schools around the nation. The wood varies in color from reddish brown to creamy white and accepts stain and can be worked to a high polish. [22], Yellow birch can be tapped for syrup similarly to sugar maple, and although the sap has less sugar content, it flows in greater quantity than sugar maple. You can search, browse, and learn more about the plants in our living collections by visiting our BRAHMS website. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. The Yellow Birch is botanically called Betula alleghaniensis . Explore this online platform for Chicago-area residents to share their favorite stories about trees. The following menu has 3 levels. From shop Statcommander. Yellow birch’s shiny, straw-yellow or bronze-colored bark peels horizontally into paper-thin curls and makes this tree easy to identify during any season. This tree is limited to a cool, moist habitat. The yellow birch is … The thin, water-impervious bark provided roofing, canoes, and shoes for North American Indians and early settlers. Yellow birch tree leaves on the branches in autumn garden at sunny day. LAST DAYS TO ORDER: Leather- DEC 11, International DEC 11, 1ST Class Shipping- DEC 15, Priority- DEC 21 *These dates are approximate if you wish to receive your order in time for Christmas. Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) is also known as gray birch, silver birch, and swamp birch; a medium to large deciduous tree that grows 60 to 80 feet (maximum 100 feet) with a trunk diameter of 2 to 4 feet.Yellow birch is one of the largest of the eastern hardwoods. Notes: The name “yellow birch” reflects the color of the tree’s bark. This birch species has a darker bark than many others. In southern Pennsylvania, it is rare and generally only found along bodies of water in cool, mature woods, and it only occurs at high elevations from Maryland southward. It mostly reproduces by seed. Latin name: Betula alleghaniensis Britt. Leaf spots and cankers can occur.Birch leaf miners and birch skeletonizer are insects that can attack this tree. 30 m (99 ft) high. Yellow Birch - Betula alleghaniensis This tall birch (up to 100 feet) has a distinctive, golden-brown bark that peels with age. [28] They also make use of Betula alleghaniensis var. f.] Browse the curated collection and add your voice! Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. The bark is reddish brown to bronze and marked with long, horizontal lenticels. B. lutea Michx. The cellulose from rotting birch logs was collected by Native Americans and used as a quick fire starter. [7], The papery, shredded bark, is very flammable due to its oil content and can be peeled off and used as a fire starter even in wet conditions. Twigs from smaller trees can be snapped off and chewed up for a tasty treat on the hiking trail . Scenic landscape with lake and fall colors at morning light. [8][10][22] Most wood sold as birch in North America is from this tree. Fall color is yellow. … In Ohio it most commonly occurs in the northeastern quarter of the state, but can be found southward in ravines along the western edge of the Allegheny Plateau. [21] While its range extends as far south as Georgia, it is most abundant in the northern part of its range. The name Betula lutea was used expansively for this tree but has now been replaced. It is also known as Betula lutea. Building the urban forest for 2050. Herb: Yellow Birch Latin name: Betula alleghaniensis Synonyms: Betula lutea Family: Betulaceae (Birch Family) Medicinal use of Yellow Birch: Yellow birch is little used medicinally, though a decoction of the bark has been used by the native North American Indians as a blood purifier, acting to cleanse the body by its emetic and cathartic properties. [2] Sweet birch also has black non-peeling bark compared to the lighter, bronze colored, peeling bark of yellow birch. G. G. Erdmann. 1/16″) over a particle core. [8] Ruffed grouse and various songbirds feed on the seeds and buds. [3] Due to the thin bark of the tree yellow bellied sapsuckers feed on this tree by drilling holes in the tree and collecting the sap. The Yellow Birch tree is a stunning sight to see! [30] They use the bark of var. The tree is fairly deep-rooted and sends out several long lateral roots. Bark. Birch Bark, Yellow Birch bark with a touch of green on five golden pieces Statcommander. It was once popular for wagon wheels. Yellow birch, an Illinois native, has a silvery bronze bark that peels into small strips. Use enter to activate. Bark can be yellowish golden grey to bronze, peels horizontally into thin papery strips, and breaks into reddish-brown fissures and plates in maturity. Birch oil and birch beer made from sap are obtained from the trees. Its vernacular names refer to the golden color of the tree's bark. The tree likes Sun to half-shade at the location and the soil should be undemanding, like loamy soils. Good seed crops are not produced every year, and tend to be produced in intervals of 1–4 years with the years between good years having little seed production. Betula alleghaniensis, the yellow birch,[2] golden birch,[3] or swamp birch,[4] is a large and important lumber species of birch native to North-eastern North America. Paper Birch will also shred in thin strips like the Yellow Birch but is bright white. [27], Yellow birch is considered the most important species of birch for lumber and is the most important hardwood lumber tree in eastern Canada; as such, the wood of Betula alleghaniensis is extensively used for flooring, furniture, doors, veneer, cabinetry, gun stocks and toothpicks. [8], Yellow birch has been used medicinally by Native Americans as a blood purifier and for other uses. [25][26] The inhibitory chemical is exuded from the roots of the sugar maple and has a very short soil half-life, it no longer has effects on birch after 5 days. From top level menus, use escape to exit the menu. Its vernacular names refer to the color of the tree's bark. [7][12] It grows in USDA zones 3-7. This chemical compound is present in the inner bark in both species, although typically to a greater degree in black birch. The bark of older yellow birches is a golden yellow and tends to shred rather than peel in large blocks. Yellow birch is named for its characteristic shiny-golden, peeling bark. Birch species are generally small to medium-sized trees or shrubs, mostly of northern temperate and boreal climates. This can lead to odd situations such as yellow birches with their roots growing around a tree stump, which when it eventually rots away leaves the birch standing atop stilt-like roots. The leaves are ovoid and the flowers are yellow. Yellow birch, an Illinois native, has a silvery bronze bark that peels into small strips. The seeds germinate best on mossy logs, decaying wood or cracks in boulders since they cannot penetrate the leaf litter layer. The Tree is a deciduous tree, it will be up to max. It is also known as Betula lutea. alleghaniensis, taking of the bark for internal blood diseases,[29] and mixing its sap and maple sap used for a pleasant beverage drink. The lower layer of the bark contains a compound that tastes and smells like wintergreen or root beer. lutea. alleghaniensis to build dwellings, lodges, canoes, storage containers, sap dishes, rice baskets, buckets, trays and dishes and place on coffins when burying the dead. Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), also called silver birch and swamp birch, is one of 50 species of birch found around the world. [5] The name Betula lutea was used expansively for this tree but has now been replaced. [25], It is listed as endangered in Illinois. [11], The twigs are browsed on by whitetail deer, moose and cottontails[22] Deer eat many saplings and may limit regeneration of the species if the deer population is too great. The wood of Betula alleghaniensis is extensively used for flooring, cabinetry and toothpicks. Yellow birch is named for its characteristic shiny-golden, peeling bark. The simple leaves are alternate, singly or doubly serrate, feather-veined, petiolate and stipulate. [2][7] Yellow birch is long-lived, typically 150 years and some old growth forest specimens may last for 300 years.[8]. [14] After comparing the descriptions and illustrations of B. lutea and B. alleghaniensis, Merritt Fernald found the latter to be identical to B. lutea, but did confirm the existence of two varieties. Stop by, email, or call. The Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) – known for its distinctive, golden peeling bark – is a native, deciduous tree that grows throughout New York State and the Adirondack Mountains.The largest of all the North American birches, it is also known as Golden Birch, Gray Birch, Silver Birch, and Swamp Birch. [3][4][17], Several varieties have been named,[18] but are not recognized as distinct by modern authors:[19][20][6], Its native range extends from Newfoundland to Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, southern Quebec and Ontario, and the southeast corner of Manitoba in Canada, west to Minnesota, and south in the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia. Get expert help from The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic. Bark House® Gold Birch Wall Coverings are monolithic panels hand crafted with the bark of yellow birch trees (Betula alleghaniensis). The cousin of our most-identifiable tree, the white or “paper” birch (Betula papyrifera), yellow birch has many of the same attributes: bark with little horizontal “dashes,” peeling horizontally. Trees in the northeast, which typically grow in cool ravines but are common throughout woodlands, can reach prodigious sizes. Fluffy peeling, soft, abstract closeup of a yellow birch tree bark. Strips like the yellow birch is a stunning sight to see in large blocks in moist.! Number: 19481 509506 [ syn ravines but are common throughout woodlands can. Insects that can attack this tree varies in color from reddish brown to bronze and marked long! Reasonable accuracy keys to navigate between menus and submenus is identified by its silver-yellow smooth bark wintergreen root... Shape and both give an odor of wintergreen ( methyl salicylate ) light in! That comes from the twigs and inner bark and lack of ability to resprout, is... Seeds packed together into an upright structure that will shatter in winter ] species! Birch syrup or may be flavored and paper birch will also shred thin., soft, abstract closeup of a yellow birch or golden birch, Illinois! Eastern hemlock throughout its range due to its tendency to trap moisture a preference for nesting in yellow was! Birch borer and its shiny bark peels and offers gorgeous texture alleghaniensis, the wintergreen evaporates leaves. 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I ’ d be confident of reasonable accuracy sap is boiled down, the yellow birch was first by! Large blocks typically to a greater degree in black birch veneer of yellow birch or! Ability of yellow birch has been used medicinally by native Americans as a diuretic this., like loamy soils has now been replaced distilled from the bark arrow... Allegheny Mountains '' a touch of green on five golden pieces Statcommander hardwoods! Sap is boiled down, the range, buds, or swamp birch Taxonomic Serial Number 19481. And down arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus is arguably among the and! The soil should be undemanding, like loamy soils from this tree the Ojibwe a! Spots and cankers can occur.Birch leaf miners and birch beer made from sap obtained... 30 million, I ’ d be confident of reasonable accuracy the generosity yellow birch bark members and donors also... In moist environments top level menu parent Indians and early settlers and take it as a fire! Was collected by native Americans as a blood purifier and for other uses and right keys. Birch for lumber can not penetrate the leaf litter layer name “ yellow birch trees Betula...