Betula populifolia
grey birch
Notes:
Narrow pyramidal habit with drooping branches. Finely branched. Pruning cuts bleed in late winter to early spring. Poor compartmentalizer of decay.
Prefers cool soils and cool summers, like most other birches. Pioneer species -- UConn calls it not just "easy to grow" but "very easy to grow".
Somewhat resistant to bronze birch borer; birch leaf miner disfigures foliage but is not fatal.
Branch strength is debated, and considering that the source calling the branches resistant to breakage was UFL, where they wouldn't know an ice storm if it hit them in the face, I tend to trust UConn more on this one.
Sources: White Oak, Sunset, UFL, JerseyYards.org, UConn, USDA.
Tags:
acidic soil preferred
alkaline soil intolerant
attracts:birds (ex-humming)
attracts:larval host
clay tolerant
compacted soil intolerant
deer resistant
drought tolerant
easy to grow
exposure:full sun
exposure:part shade
fall color notable
fast-growing
fine texture
form:tree
full sun preferred
habit:conical/pyramidal
habit:upright
infertile soil tolerant
litter:minimal
native:eastern North America
open canopy
persistence:deciduous
pest/disease sensitive
pruning not required
root competition intolerant
roots:low damage potential
roots:shallow
salt tolerant
sandy soil tolerant
short-lived
showy bark
stoloniferous/suckering
type:broadleaf
use:container
use:naturalizing
use:specimen
water:moderate to little
water:regular
wet soil tolerant
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