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Betula Species Comparisons
This page is intended to help you become more familiar with the different Betula species. Here you can quickly compare the different species to better learn the distinguishing characteristics of each.
Leaf
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| Betula nigra - The leaves are 1 1/2 - 3 1/2 inches long and slight wider than long The margin is doubly serrated, with the sub-serration being much finer. | Betula occidentalis - The leaves are smaller than other Beech species, only 1-2 inches long and almost as wide, giving the leaf a rounded triangular shape. The margin is doubly serrated, but the sub-serration is so large it may often be confused for the primary serration. |
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| Betula papyrifera - The leaves are 2-4 inches long and are dark green color and much more elongated than either Betula nigra or occidentalis. They have a finely doubly-serrated margin. | Betula pendula - The leaves are dark green and broadly ovate. They are 1-3 inches long and very finely doubly-serrated. |
Bark
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| Betula nigra - The bark is cinnamon-brown in color and has many lightly-colored horizontal lenticels. It will peel away in strips until it becomes very mature, at which point it becomes dark and somewhat furrowed. | Betula occidentalis - The bark is reddish-brown with lightly-colored horizontal lenticels. It is a darker red than |
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| Betula papyrifera - The bark is nearly pure white, and it peels away in large thing sheets, exposing orangish undertones. | Betula pendula - Immature bark is brown, but turns bright white after a few years. Unlike Betula papyrifera, the bark of Betula pendula does not exfoliate much. |
Catkins
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| Betula nigra - Male catkins are 2 1/2 inches long and commonly form in trios. The female catkins are smaller, only 1 inch long. | Betula occidentalis - Male catkins are two inches long and weep, while female catkins are slightly smaller and held upright. |
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| Betula papyrifera - The male catkins are 2-4 inches long and form in trios. Female catkins 1 inch long. | Betula pendula - The catkins are 2-3 inches long and form in pairs. |
Form
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| Betula nigra - Almost always sold in a clump form, you will occasionally encounter single-stem specimens. A large and somewhat narrow tree, 40-70 feet tall, 20-40 feet wide. | Betula occidentalis - Naturally occuring as a multi-stem format, it grows 20-30 feet high. It has a slight pendulous habit. |
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| Betula papyrifera - Paper Birch has a good upright pyramidal form, and is comonly found in single-stem form. It grows 50-70 feet high and 25-40 feet wide. | Betula pendula - It has an extremely graceful weeping form. Almost always grows as a single stem, 40-50 feet high and 25-35 feet wide. |