Birch Tree Varieties – Types of Birch Trees

Birch Tree Varieties – Types of Birch Trees

There is a wide assortment of Birch Tree Varieties that you can grow in your yard. You can even get different types of birch trees with black, & white trunks and leaves that cover the whole color spectrum.

Best of all, on this page, you’ll find a complete list of the best Birch Tree Varieties that you can buy online and have shipped right to your door without all of the hassles of going to a garden center or the nursery

Birch Tree Varieties

 

Paper Birch

Paper Birch (Buy Online)

The Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) is a beautiful tree with particularly ornamental bark. One would be a handsome addition to your front yard where passers-by could enjoy its ornamental features year-round. It’s a wonderful compliment to other plantings and provides vibrant fall color.

Paper Birch tree is noted for its white bark, unique to other plantings in your yard. The “papery” bark tends to peel, revealing reddish-brown bark underneath. This creates a two-toned effect that is simply breathtaking in the common landscape.

As Paper Birch matures, black horizontal lines will appear to contrast with the white, adding even more ornamental appeal. The dark-green, lightly-toothed leaves turn a stunning golden hue in autumn, spicing up your yard before they fall to reveal more of the beautiful bark for your enjoyment during the winter months.

Paper Birch trees are the most widely distributed (east to west), of all North American birches. The graceful form and attractive white bark of Paper Birch make it a prized species for ornamental plantings and landscaping around homes and public buildings. It can grow in many conditions but doesn’t do well with drought.

It has many uses beyond the ornamental. It’s well known as firewood that will burn even when wet, valued for use in furniture, and it is even used in Popsicle sticks. The syrup is often used as a delicious topping (much like maple syrup), and can also be made into candles. Can you guess why it’s nicknamed “Canoe Birch”?

Paper Birch loves a cool, moist, north or east-facing site or where the sun does not bake the roots. Use a nice 4inch layer of mulch over the roots for excellent results.

 

 

Dakota Pinnacle Birch

Dakota Pinnacle Birch (Buy Online)

Strong, hardy, and colorful are a few of the words that would aptly describe the Dakota Pinnacle® Birch (Betula platyphylla ‘Fargo’). This isn’t just another tree, it’s an opportunity to elevate the poise and posture of your landscape.

The show begins in the early spring, with bare branches leafing out and settling into dark green foliage. The leaves grow densely in a brilliant pyramidal shape. It’ll have you conjuring up images of Egyptian masterpieces of the same shape.

That’s not where the resemblance stops though. As fall approaches and the brisk breezes are just starting to make their appearance, this deciduous tree will burst into a jaw-dropping yellow. Birches are known for their fantastic fall color and Dakota Pinnacle is no different.

Taking a walk among these trees in the fall is a real treat. Even as the rest of the trees are finishing their fall show, Dakota Pinnacle will still be holding on to its leaves and continuing to wow onlookers with its golden color.

Have no fear though, even when it lets go of its foliage, it’ll still be a sight to behold. Underneath the leaves is a stunning and starkly beautiful trunk. The smooth white bark stands out against the winter landscape and adds a fourth season of interest!

While other birch trees might shy away from the harsh cold often found in the northern regions, Dakota Pinnacle takes it in stride. Not only does it have a higher tolerance for cold, but it also won’t be easily blown over in the wind that accompanies winter.

As if that weren’t enough to pique your interest, this tree is quite drought tolerant and has above average resistance to bronze birch borer!

 

 

 

 

First Editions® Parkland Pillar® Birch

First Editions® Parkland Pillar® Birch (Buy Online)

You can sense this plant’s confidence from a mile away with its upright, narrow, shape. The First Editions® Parkland Pillar® Birch (Betula platyphylla ‘Jefpark’ PP 25,468) is ready to take on any role in your landscaping.

This sophisticated birch tree is tightly branched with a smooth white bark making it stand tall and proud with dark green foliage that fades into a golden yellow in the fall.

The First Editions Parkland Pillar Birch pops out most in landscaping when planted as an accent tree because of its clean, precise appearance.

This works as a fabulous privacy tree as well and is commonly used along the sides of a patio, porches, and decks.

The First Edition Parkland Pillar Birch grows up to 35 feet tall with about a 6 feet spread that will remind you of a royal garden when mass planted along your driveway.

Even in the immense heat, this birch tree is incredibly heat tolerant and prefers being planted in full sun with well-drained soil.

 

 

Jacquemontii Himalayan Birch

Jacquemontii Himalayan Birch (Buy Online)

You want a plant that is going to stand tall and proud no matter what and this tree does just that with its upright, pyramidal shape that is known for its distinctive, hardy white bark.

The Jacquemontii Himalayan Birch (Betula utilis var. ‘jacquemontii’) is the go-to ornamental Birch tree because of its yellow fall foliage that dramatically pops along with its white bark.

The yellow-green foliage that turns yellow in the fall makes it perfect for adding color to your landscaping and looks incredibly captivating in a mass planting.

This Birch tree is about 30 feet tall with a spread of about 20 feet making it the ideal shade tree to kick back and relax under to escape reality for a while.

For full growth, this Birch tree prefers to be planted in full sun with moist well-drained soil. Make your life significantly easier in the long run by surrounding the base of the tree with mulch to ensure even moisture.

This deciduous tree is low-maintenance and needs little attention, but to help with the overall health and growth, spread a nice 3-4 inch layer of mulch over the root zone, and give your Birch a drink during dry spells.

 

 

Dura Heat River Birch

Dura Heat River Birch (Buy Online)

People just love these beautiful trees! One of the country’s most popular ornamental, deciduous trees, Dura Heat® (Betula nigra ‘BNMTF’) is a real standout specimen. The unique bark is light-colored and offers an unmatched performance over any other similar tree.

Dura Heat is a wonderful heat tolerant selection of River Birch that has better insect and disease resistance than the species. It is a Birch that likes the heat and can be grown up into Zone 9, as long as it does not get too dry.

One of the best attributes is the attractive, creamy white bark which peels and exfoliates to expose the pinkish, cinnamon colors of the inner bark. Dura Heat’s tree bark adds welcome texture to your landscape.

The leaves are far superior to the species with a deep green summer color, and outstanding butter-yellow fall color. Dura Heat has a denser, greener foliage canopy than other Birch and is quite tolerant of hot temperatures, as the name implies. Gentle rustling sounds and kinetic movement from the leaves fluttering in the slightest breeze will refresh you and your guests, even on the hottest summer day.

Dura Heat stands up to leaf spot. Give it full sun with moist soil, or add water as needed. Hardy for most all U.S. climate zones, it is fast-growing, well-forked, wind and ice-resistant.

 

 

Royal Frost® Birch

Royal Frost® Birch (Buy Online)

Make way as the trumpets sound for the Royal Frost Birch (Betula x ‘Royal Frost’) is in your presence.

You will understand the hype of this royal upright, pyramidal burgundy-red to plum purple foliage that fades into a captivating yellow-orange to red coloration in the fall.

Not to mention the impressive white bark that shows beautifully in the winter months. You won’t be able to miss this magnificent tree no matter where it’s planted!

Planting as a specimen tree is ideal as this tree was born to be the centerpiece of every landscaping. You will have something to look forward to every season of the year.

The Royal Frost Birch makes for a perfect privacy screen with its medium size of about 35 feet tall and around 15 feet wide. Your family and friends will want to come over to admire this fascinating tree with you.

Treat your tree like royalty should be treated and plant in partial shade to full sun with well-drained soil. Keep your Royal Frost healthy and stress-free by mulching the root zone with 3-4 inches of mulch, and drop the hose under your plant during the dry spells, and your Birch will appreciate it!

 

 

Heritage Birch Tree

Heritage Birch Tree (Buy Online)

For a wonderful visual interest, try one of the prettiest, fast-growing shade trees available on the market. Heritage Birch tree (Betula nigra ‘Cully’) grows very fast to provide airy, breezy shade for you and your family.

Heritage Birch can grow very quickly. Young trees can add 3 or 4 feet in a single season!

Heritage is a cultivar of a native River Birch tree with exquisite, peeling, exfoliating bark that is lighter colored than the species. It would do well as a specimen planting for your yard, especially in low areas, or along a pond or stream.

You’ll delight in the beautiful tones of creamy white and pink peeling back to expose tan and cinnamon colors. It starts to exfoliate as the trunks reach a 2-3 inch caliber diameter and larger.

The shaggy look is sophisticated, handsome, and a bit rugged. It works beautifully with all styles of architecture, from contemporary to traditional. Consider this the perfect accent in a naturalized, rustic setting.

The rough-textured bark certainly makes a wonderful contrast to the shiny, dark green leaves. The rustling, gleaming foliage lofts and sways catching the slightest breeze. It turns a clear golden-yellow in fall.

Heritage is more insect and disease resistant than other Birch varieties. It’s a carefree, hardy tree and an excellent choice for year-round interest in your yard.

Grow them as a single stem plant and they will become narrow and pyramidal in outline. They can also be grown in multiple trunks, clump form plants, and the overall outline may be a bit broader than a single stem. Even multiple trunk plants will grow taller than wide.

Using native trees in your landscape design has several benefits. Many types of birds value the Heritage River Birch for nesting, seed, and cover. Several butterfly species also value it as a larval food source. But deer tend to leave it alone.

 

 

Prairie Dream® Paper Birch

Prairie Dream® Paper Birch (Buy Online)

You can stop looking for a tree that will make your landscaping a dream come true because before you stands the Prairie Dream® Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera ‘Varen’).

Exceptional snow-white bark with the most intriguing dark green foliage that fades into a rich golden-yellow coloration in the fall months. This tree can either grow with a single trunk or multi-trunk.

Even in the winter, this tree has the incredible ornamental feature of its bright snow-white bark. It’s hard to find a tree with the capability to attract people throughout the winter months, but this tree has no problem doing so.

You can make this tree stand out that much more by planting next to evergreen trees, which will make the colors of your Prairie Dream Paper Birch pop dramatically.

If you’re needing a specimen tree to make your landscaping look appealing in all months, then your prayers have been answered with the Prairie Dream Paper Birch.

Planting your Prairie Dream Paper Birch tree in well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade will allow it to grow to its full size of 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide.

Throughout every season, you will be blessed with the most beautiful colors and ornamental features in your backyard thanks to this tree. 

 

 

Whitespire Birch

Whitespire Birch (Buy Online)

You’ve probably seen the stunning white logs with the beautiful deep gray chevrons, carefully stacked next to the stone fireplace at the ski chalet in Aspen. Or perhaps you’ve just caught a glimpse in decorators’ magazines.

Maybe you’ve admired the pretty deciduous tree 3 blocks over. The chalky-white bark, fluttering leaves, and crisp, clean form are hard to miss.

However you first fell in love with Whitespire Birch (Betula populifolia ‘Whitespire’), it makes a fabulous, fine-textured accent tree.

Tall and stately, Whitespire’s showy bark does not exfoliate or peel. It will create a magnificent focal point in both daytime and at night.

Garden designers across the country love this improved selection of Gray Birch with its good pest resistance and enormously ornamental features. The pyramidal shape is instantly recognizable.

Use this as a wonderful, sophisticated choice for both front yard and backyard landscaping in colder zones. You simply can’t go wrong with a Whitespire Birch.

There are several ways it’s grown and sold. Choose from a multi-stemmed “clump” or a single trunk. Either choice is gorgeous.

The Whitespire Birch gives you several standout seasons during the year. Bright green leaves and cute, dangling catkins provide summer interest and refreshing, dappled shade. You can easily grow smaller plants in this shade.

You’ll love the way the dark green leaves turn a rich, bright yellow in autumn. Next comes winter, when that showy bark adds tremendous visual interest and captures your attention. The bark turns white when the trunks get to be about two or three inches in diameter.

 

 

 

River Birch

River Birch (Buy Online)

The River Birch (Betula nigra) is the most planted Birch in the United States and the best one for hot climates. It is a tree that has something to offer for every season.

It’s world-famous for its silky, smooth, light-tan bark that peels and exfoliates to reveal tantalizing glimpses of beautiful salmon-pink and cinnamon brown-colored patches beneath. The bark is an outstanding ornamental feature.

Lovely all year long, the River Birch is truly stunning in the winter. The graceful branches and the colorful, textured bark add interest to even the darkest winter day.

In the spring, River Birch grows fresh, light green leaves and female catkins that stand up on the ends of the branches. As the diamond-shaped leaves mature in the summer, they become a beautiful, shiny, dark green.

River Birches transform again in the fall. The male catkins will emerge dripping from the branches and the leaves will turn a brilliant butter-yellow that lights up the autumn landscape.

This is the hardiest of all Birches. It’s a fast-growing, trouble-free tree that is a favorite of many. Young plants can double in size in a short couple of years!

 

 

Renaissance Reflection Birch – Ornamental Birch Tree Varieties

Renaissance Reflection Birch (Buy Online)

The Renaissance Reflection® Birch, Betula papyrifera ‘Renci’ (PP12,768), displays brilliant white, exfoliating bark and radiant yellow fall color. These attributes would be enough to recommend this tree!

It’s heat resistant and has a rapid growth rate of 3-5 feet per year, developing a slender pyramidal shape. It can be grown as a single stem or a multi-stem and like’s full sun and moist soil. Renaissance Reflection has superior bronze birch borer resistance. This deciduous, hardy birch is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. It will add color and interest to any yard.

 

 

Proven Winners® Cesky Gold® Dwarf Birch

Proven Winners® Cesky Gold® Dwarf Birch (Buy Online)

 

 

Shiloh Splash River Birch Tree

Shiloh Splash River Birch Tree (Buy Online)

Looking for an easy-care accent or focal point for your diminutive modern lot? Or perhaps you are searching for a fantastic screening plant that works hard all year long.

Whether you want a single tree or several to use in an informal group, you’ll get your money’s worth with this vibrant selection. Shiloh Splash River Birch Tree(Betula nigra ‘Shiloh Splash’) has the most amazing variegated leaves, along with the charming exfoliating bark you love.

This exceptional cultivar of a native River Birch tree takes the visual impact up several levels. Each beautiful leaf is different and looks like a custom work of art up close.

Splashed here and there with irregular, creamy-white margins, the fine-textured foliage brightens the landscape. You’ll love the designer look, especially in partially shaded areas.

As nights grow cooler, the leaves turn a glowing, golden-yellow in most years. Let them light up your football watch parties, and become the perfect backdrop for yearly “Back to School” photos.

Couple this outstanding variegated foliage with the rustic charm of the bark, and Shiloh Splash River Birch looks great no matter what season it is. Study the bark and you’ll be fascinated by the shades of cinnamon, salmon-pink, tans, and creamy white.

River Birch is both heat tolerant and cold-hardy. This enduring native tree will decorate landscapes across America.

Native trees support many types of songbirds, who love them for cover and as a food source. But deer tend to leave River Birch alone.

As you might imagine, these gorgeous, splashy trees are red-hot in popularity. Garden designers are leveraging their chic charm in very high-end designs.

Shiloh Splash River Birch tree is long-lived and grows into a valuable asset. They work in many different styles, from ultra-modern to naturalized Cottage Gardens.

 

 

Fox Valley® River Birch

Fox Valley® River Birch (Buy Online)

Who would have thought that the beauty of a plant could start at its trunk? The Fox Valley River Birch (Betula nigra ‘Little King’) is known for its salmon and reddish-brown peeling bark that divulges a lighter inner bark.

The foliage emerges light green but turns darker green until the fall when it finishes clear yellow.

Fox Valley River Birch is a great specimen plant to show off its unique trunk and colorful foliage that will draw in a crowd.

This birch tree really can do it all though, so planting by a water feature or as a foundation plant along the side of your garage will captivate the beauty of your property regardless.

The multi-stemmed branches are incredibly hardy and can withstand extreme summer temperatures if planted in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil.

To help keep the Fox Valley River Birch healthy, surround the base of the tree with mulch to ensure even moisture and to assist in keeping nasty diseases and pests away.

Fox Valley River Birch is a tidy dwarf tree and typically will not need any pruning.

 

 

 

Magical® Globe Birch

Magical® Globe Birch (Buy Online)

Take advantage of these cunning small trees to create a showpiece…the easy way. With a tight, rounded canopy, Magical Globe Birch tree (Betula pendula ‘Globe’) grows naturally into that fetching lollipop shape found in the most desirable neighborhoods.

Magical Globe is a work of art that is hand-crafted by our small tree experts. We take great pride in our craftsmanship, and you’ll be thrilled, too.

This grafted selection combines two exquisite species into a fantastic modern specimen plant. All eyes will be drawn to the silvery bark of the stick straight Himalayan or River Birch trunk.

You’ll love the way this petite tree lends a showy appeal that is both modern and effortlessly casual. Easy-care, sophisticated Magical Globe Birch simply fits today’s comfort-oriented gestalt and high-end design sensibilities.

Use them in oversized outdoor containers along your terrace or patio. Decorate your rented balcony with several of them in a curated collection of pots.

Flank either side of an entrance with a pair of them. Or, plant one on either side of a new outdoor sofa for a chic splash of green.

In the landscape, why not add them in a long curving line to punctuate a garden path? If you have the room, add a second line on the opposite side to create a grand allée experience.

Plant in rich soil and keep it moist. Use pine bark mulch to add a little acidity to the soil.

Shape your Birch in later spring after the sap rises and the leaves emerge. Use a light hand…there won’t be much to keep your lollipop looking amazing.

 

 

Young’s Weeping Birch Tree Varieties

Young’s Weeping Birch (Buy Online)

An astounding form and attractive foliage make Young’s Weeping Birch (Betula pendula ‘Youngii’) a true garden standout. Give it plenty of room to spread into its full, pendulous glory! Birch trees are some of the world’s prettiest, and this expressive selection is no exception.

The charismatic canopy drapes downward in a gorgeous cascade. Let the weeping branches grace your landscape with their distinctive, dark green, toothed, and textured leaves that catch every breeze!

 

 

 

Birch Tree VarietiesAudubon® Sweet Birch  – Native Birch Tree Varieties

Audubon® Sweet Birch (Buy Online)

The National Audubon Society presents a new line of native plants and trees that helps birds and wildlife thrive in your area! Beautiful eastern U.S. native Audubon® Sweet Birch (Betula lenta) features brownish-black scaly bark and reddish-brown stems. Also known as the Black Birch, Cherry Birch, or Mahogany Birch due to the resemblance the bark has to Cherry trees. The oldest has been confirmed as 368 years old!

The fresh green foliage is decorated by pendulous male and female catkins, with the female fruit maturing in fall. The twigs, when scraped, have a strong scent of wintergreen, giving it another common name of Spice Birch. The bark doesn’t take on the traditional peeling appearance until trees are much more mature.

These trees can be tapped in a similar fashion as Maples and can be boiled the same as maple sap, but its syrup is stronger in flavor. It can also be used to make birch beer.

Sweet Birch is hardy throughout USDA 3 – 8 in full sun, part shade, and even full shade! Growing quickly when young, these are very long-lived specimens. Provide a well-drained moist site, these trees are widely and wildly adaptable!