Deciduous Trees (Flowering) – Paper Birch

• Paper birch

Botanical name: betula papyrifera 

Beginner friendly?: yes

Average size at maturity: can reach 100 ft in height and 20 ft in width 

Bloom time: spring 

Hardy zone: zones 3-8

Flower color: yellow/green/brown 

Foliage color: green/yellow

Growth rate: grows 2-3 ft per year 

Pruning instructions: prune in the late winter/early spring

Propagation methods: propagate with cuttings in the fall and winter or propagate by sowing in the spring 

Landscape use: tree specimen tree, border planting 

Light needs: about 6 hours of sun per day 

Special features: peeling bark, drought tolerant, fast growing 

Watering instructions: water once the top 3 inches of soil have dried out from the last watering session for the first 2-3 months. Once established rainfall should be sufficient with occasional manual watering during periods of drought. 

Fertilizing instructions : use a slow-release tree and shrub plant food once a year in the early spring 

Best time to plant: spring and summer

Best type of soil: loam or clay 

Companion plants: hollies, spirea, juniper, beautyberry, ajuga 

Toxicity level: non-toxic for humans and pets

Invasive species: not invasive