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Betula populifolia

Gray Birch, Poplar Birch

Pronunciation
BET-u-la POP-yew-li-fo-lee-uh
Family
Genus
Nativity

Found in the northern mountains of the United States

Growth Habit

Short and sometimes shrubby in habit. Slender, sometimes multiple, conical stems.

Hardiness
3
Culture

Dry, barren areas. This tree usually grows well in open or disturbed areas, not usually found in Climax forests.

Facultative Status
Facultative
Landscape Use

Good for naturalizing poor soils; good fall color, and the bark is aesthetically pleasing.

Foliage

Alternate, serrated edges with an elongated apex. Overall almost triangular in shape. Yellow fall color.

Buds

Buds are imbricately scaled, somewhat resinous.

Bark

Chalky white with large horizontal lenticels. Not peeling like B. nigra.

Flower

Catkin, 2 to 3.5 inches long

Fruit

Only one male catkin on the end of stems. Female catkins are in pairs. This is a distinguishable feature between other species. Fruit is a small nut.

Propagation

Seed, cuttings.

Pests
Leaf miner and cankers.

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