Betula papyrifera | Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum

A paper birch located between Moot Hall and Ketchum Hall.

A closeup of a paper birch leaf.

A closeup of paper birch bark

The peeling bark of a paper birch displaying its thin, colorful layers. The older, outer layers are dark and range from grey to brown to reddish, while the inner bark is a smooth, creamy white.

Scientific name: Betula papyrifera

Common name: Paper Birch

Native: Yes

Native range: Native to northern North America [1,2,3].

Distribution in North America: Click to view the USDA Plants Database page for B. papyrifera.

USDA Zones: 3-6 [2]

Maximum age: Rarely lives longer than 140 years [3].

Ecology: Deer and moose prefer paper birch for cover and forage, browsing the foliage along with snowshoe hair [1,3]. Birds and small mammals consume the seeds [1,3]. Its foliage also hosts a variety of moths and caterpillars [5].

Ethnobotany: Like other Betula species, paper birch is valued for its aesthetic qualities and is a common feature of plantings [1,3]. The sap can be used to make syrup, birch beer, wine, and vinegar [1,3]. Indigenous American groups use paper birch for a wide array of applications, including as a building material, food source, medicine, and even an ingredient in shampoos [1,3,4].