Betula alleghaniensis Britton

Yellow birch

About plant names...

Yellow birch is a North American native.

Identification: Trees are 60-70' (18-21 m) tall, rarely reaching 100' (30 m). Tree shape is pyramidal in young trees, and usually uneven in mature trees. The yellowish-bronze bark, easily peeled as with other birches, is unique in appearance; the inner bark has a slight odor or wintergreen. Leaves are alternate and unlobed, 2-4½" (6-12 cm) long and half as wide. Yellow birches have both male and female flowers on the same tree. Male flowers are catkins near twig ends, 1" (2.5 cm) long and reddish green. Female flowers point upright. They are ⅝" (1.7 cm) long and reddish-green. Fruits resemble small cones, ¾-1¼" (1.9-3.2 cm) × ¼-⅜" (6.3-9.5 mm).

Edibility: The sap may be harvested and processed like that from sugar maples, though the sugar content is much lower. The inner bark can be cooked or dried, then powdered and used as an ingredient in making bread. Twigs and leaves can be used to produce a tea.

Online References:

Www.carolinanature.com

The University of Connecticut Plant Database

The USDA Forest Service's Silvics of North America site

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

References:

Eastman, John; illustrated by Hansen, Amelia, The Book of Forest and Thicket: Trees, Shrubs, and Wildflowers of Eastern North America, Stackpole Books, 1992, p. 30

Sibley, David Allen, The Sibley Guide to Trees, Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, p. 156

Little, Elbert L., National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees, Eastern Region, Alfred A. Knopf, 1980, p. 180, 487, 617, 364

Dirr, Michael A., Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs, Timber Press, 1997, p. 54

4/3/2010 · Birch Point Beach State Park, Owl’s Head, Maine
≈ 31 × 46" (78 × 117 cm) ID is uncertain

6/18/2012 · Vaughn Woods, South Berwick, Maine
≈ 16 × 24" (41 × 62 cm)

4/24/2016 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, New Hamp­shire

10/6/2011 · Pack Monadnock, 2200', Peterborough, New Hamp­shire
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm)

9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm)

10/2/2010 · Hackers Trail, Cliff Park, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 14 cm) ID is uncertain

4/19/2013 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 11" (18 × 27 cm)

10/2/2010 · Hackers Trail, Cliff Park, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

6/18/2012 · Vaughn Woods, South Berwick, Maine

Betula alleghaniensis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 19 Aug 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

4/19/2013 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 14" (23 × 35 cm)

10/2/2010 · Hackers Trail, Cliff Park, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain

9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 24 × 16" (62 × 41 cm)

4/17/2013 · Leominster State Forest, Leominster, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 14" (23 × 35 cm)

10/6/2011 · Pack Monadnock, 2200', Peterborough, New Hamp­shire
≈ 9 × 14" (23 × 35 cm)

10/6/2011 · Pack Monadnock, 2200', Peterborough, New Hamp­shire
≈ 8 × 12" (20 × 31 cm)

4/17/2013 · Leominster State Forest, Leominster, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 10 × 15" (26 × 39 cm)

9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 21 × 31" (52 × 78 cm)

4/24/2016 · Blue Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, New Hamp­shire

Range:

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