Most birch trees grow best in moist soil and they love full sun. However, the roots might head for your plumbing pipes if a large tree is planted too close to your house. Do not let this deter you though; these are magnificent trees that are not hard to grow and should be a choice for your landscape. Birches are fast-growing trees that can quickly provide benefits to your yard. Insect pests are most likely to strike a birch tree in areas where it is wounded or diseased. By keeping your trees well pruned and free of damaged branches, you can greatly reduce the likelihood of infestation by bronze birch borer or other insects. Here are 11 common types of birch trees to consider for your landscape and areas where they are typically grown in the United States and around the world. Other common names include swamp birch, glandular birch, dwarf birch, and resin birch.
Native Area: North AmericaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 9 Height: 5 to 10 feetSun Exposure: Full sun
River birch may also be known as red birch, black birch, or water birch.
Native Area: Eastern U.S.USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9 Height: 40 to 70 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Regionally, the cherry birch may be called by other common names, including black birch, sweet birch, mahogany birch, Virginia roundleaf birch, or spice birch.
Native Area: Eastern U.S., from Maine to northern GeorgiaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8 Height: 40 to 70 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Other names for this tree include bog birch and arctic birch.
Native Areas: Greenland, Iceland, northern Europe, northern Asia, and northern North AmericaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 1 to 8 Height: 6 inches to 3 feet tall Sun Exposure: Full sun
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Native Area: Europe, AsiaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 7; can be grown in 8 and 9 but will have a shorter lifeHeight: 40 to 80 feet, depending on cultivarSun Exposure: Full sun
This tree has other common names, including white-barked Himalayan birch and jacquemonti birch.
Native Area: West Himalayas, NepalUSDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 7 Height: 30 to 50 feetSun Exposure: Full sun; can take some light shade
Native Area: Manchuria, Korea, JapanUSDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8 Height: 40 to 50 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Native Area: Northern North AmericaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 7 Height: 45 to 100 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to light shade
Common varieties include:
Curly birch (B. pendula ‘Carelica’)Cutleaf weeping European birch (B. pendula ‘Gracilis’)Golden cloud weeping birch (B. pendula ‘Golden Cloud’)Purple weeping birch (B. pendula ‘Purpurea’)Swedish birch (B. pendula ‘Dalecarlica’ or ‘Laciniata’)Tristis weeping birch (B. pendula ‘Tristis’)Young’s weeping birch (B. pendula ‘Youngii’) (pictured)
Other common names for this tree include western birch, red birch, river birch, black birch, and western red birch.
Native Area: Western North America, mountainous regionsUSDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7 Height: Shrubby form can grow 25 feet tall; as a tree, to 40 feet Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Yellow birch may be known regionally as swamp birch, curly birch, gold birch, or hard birch.
Native Area: Northeastern North AmericaUSDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7 Height: 50 to 80 feetSun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
