IFAS Extension
Urban Horticulture
Abstract
A native to northern areas that is grown for its beautiful white bark. An additional ornamental trait is the yellow fall leaf color. The tree is best adapted to wet and moist sites—watch out for pests if grown in an unsuitable site. The tree will grow to 50 feet or more and spread about half that amount. Paper birch has excellent cold tolerance and will grow in USDA hardiness zone 2. It is rarely successful in zones warmer than USDA hardiness zone six. In landscapes it may be grown as a single-stemmed tree or in a multi-stemmed clump.
About this Publication
This document is ENH255, one of a series of the UF/IFAS Department of Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date November 1993. Revised December 2006. Reviewed February 2014. Visit the Ask IFAS website at https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication. © UF/IFAS. This publication is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
How to Cite
Gilman, E., & Watson, D. (2003). Betula papyrifera: Paper Birch. EDIS, 2003(10). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-st096-1993
Authors
Edward F. Gilman
professor emeritus, Department of Environmental Horticulture
Dennis G. Watson
former associate professor, UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Gainesville, FL
Contacts
Michael Andreu
Specialist
University of Florida
professor, forest systems, UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences