Paper birch
Betula papyrifera
White bark for snowy places; struggles with hot summers.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 7
Light: full sun
Size: about 50 ft tall, 30 ft wide
From: Northern North America
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: wildlife, butterfly and moth caterpillars.
Native to: Northeast, Midwest & Great Lakes, Rockies & Great Basin, Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Eastern Canada, Western Canada. Hardy in zones 2 to 7.
The story
Paper birch is the canoe tree. Its white, waterproof bark was peeled in sheets by Anishinaabe and other northern peoples to cover canoes, wigwams and food baskets, and it lights a fire even when wet.
Planting
Sun on the leaves and shade on the roots, in cool, moist, acid soil. It is a tree for the north.
Growing
Mulch deeply and water in dry summers. Never peel bark from a living tree; the scar is permanent.
Harvest and use
White trunks against snow, gold fall color, catkins and seeds for redpolls and grouse. It can be tapped for a thin spring sap.
What to watch for
Bronze birch borer wherever summers are hot. It is short-lived south of zone 6.
See if Paper birch fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home