Looking for a native birch that offers resistance to borer and looks stunning in both summer and winter landscapes? Look no further than the Betula papyrifera, also known as Canoe Birch, Paper Birch, or White Birch. This medium-sized deciduous tree can reach up to 100 ft tall and has a trunk diameter of up to 30 inches. Its bark is white, flaking in fine horizontal strips, revealing reddish orange underbark. This species thrives in cool areas and moist, acid soils and has a beautiful golden-yellow fall color. In springtime, the sap can be harvested from the trunk and used to make a pleasant sweet drink or concentrated into syrup or sugar. The inner bark can also be eaten raw or cooked and used as a thickener in soups. Whether as a single specimen or in groupings and groves, this tree is sure to impress. For more information, visit plants.usda.gov.
