Betula papyrifera, commonly known as Canoe Birch, Paper Birch or White Birch, is a medium-sized deciduous tree that can reach up to 100 ft in height, with a trunk up to 30 inches in diameter. Its standout feature is its stunning white bark that flaks off in fine horizontal strips, revealing a reddish orange underbark. This native birch offers better resistance to the borer than other birches, making it an ideal option for landscape use. It has a golden-yellow fall color and is excellent when used in groupings, in groves, or even as a single specimen. In the spring, the sap from the tree is edible raw or cooked, and can be concentrated into a syrup or fermented to make birch beer or vinegar. The leaves are ovate with a doubly serrate margin, and the flowers are wind-pollinated catkins that grow from the tips of twigs. The fruit comprises numerous tiny winged seeds that drop between September and spring. In short, the Betula papyrifera is a striking tree that adds visual appeal to any landscape while also providing edible and medicinal benefits.
