Paper-birch

Betula papyrifera

Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree. The Paper Birch grows well in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained and clay soils. While it prefers normal moisture, the tree has some drought tolerance. They are often found on the edges of lakes and forests and are often the first trees to grow in an area that has been burned or logged. Paper Birch trees usually have a single trunk up to 60 cm in diameter and grow to an average height of 30 meters. The bark and branches of young trees are a dark reddish-brown, but mature trees have whitish bark with small black marks and scars, readily peeling from the trunk in thin, paper-like sheets. The leaves are triangular or egg-shaped and are about 3 inches long with double serrations on the edges. The leaves are a dull green colour on top and are paler underneath. Individual flowers are arranged in long clusters known as catkins. They hang from the branches during the summer. Male catkins are up to 100 mm long; females are 50mm long. They shed copious amounts of pollen in April or May before the leaves emerge. Paper Birch are fast growing trees, but are generally short-lived, with an average life span of 80 years.