Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Photo taken by Calvin De Jong
Description
Height 20-40 m
Width 76 cm
Leaves 5-10 cm long, 10-20 mm wide
Flowers 2-4 cm long (catkins)
Seeds 1 mm
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Paper birch is a short-lived deciduous tree growing in small groups or singly. It grows dark green smooth leaves in the spring and summer that turn bright yellow in the fall. The bark is bright white with small elongated dots or slits and is flaky in nature reviling a salmon pink under bark when the bark is peeling. The bark is highly weather-resistant giving it many uses such as birch bark canoes and weather-resistant baskets.
Distribution and habitat
Paper birch can be found in most Canadian provinces except for Nunavut, it is also found in some northern parts of the United States. Paper birch typically can be found growing in open sunny semi-dense woodlands, it likes to grow in well-drained but moist soils. Paper birch is a pioneer species, which means it is one of the first plants to colonize a recently disturbed area, such as areas that have been recently logged or had forest fires.
Elevation 10-1800 m
Soil moist, well-drained
pH 5-7.5
Zones 2-7
Sun full sun, partial shade
Uses & Benefits
The bark is antirheumatic, astringent, lithontripic, and a sedative. North Americans Indian tribes have used paper birch to treat skin problems and make wooden bowls, spoons, birch bark canoes, baskets and even used as waterproof roofing tiles. A decoction of the wood and bark can be used to treat and relive female ailments.
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Parts used:
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Bark
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Sap
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Roots
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One can also use Paper Birch to treat:
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Rashes
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Burns
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Female ailments
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Ways to use Paper Birch:
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Tea
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Decoction
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Poultice
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Syrup
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Calvin De Jong
Content Writer/Photographer
I am a naturalist from the Okanagan. My passions are taken photos of nature and foraging all its wonders.