Betula papyrifera

Plant Details

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General Information

Scientific name: Betula papyrifera
Also known as: Paper Birch, Mountain paper birch, Kenai birch
Images: Google Images

Plant Properties

Layer: Tree
Format: Large
Height: 20.00 m
Width: 5.00 m
Growth Rate: Slow
Leaf: Deciduous

Growth conditions

USDA Hardiness: 2-6
Soil Moisture:
Permeable, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acid Neutral Basic
Light:
Sun

Usage properties

Edible part:
Flowers, Inner bark, Leaves, Juice, Tea
Edibility:
(3)
Medicinal:
(2)
Features:
Glue, Charcoal, Dye, Ethereal oil, Fibers, Cosmetic, Paper, Pioneer, Repellent, Wood, Fragrant, Bee plant

Description

Inner bark - raw or cooked, best in spring. The inner bark can be dried, ground, and used as a thickening agent in soups or added to flour for making bread and cookies. Normally, inner bark is only eaten during food scarcity when other forms of starch are not available. Sap - raw or cooked with a sweet flavor, harvested in early spring. The sap flows best on warm, sunny days following a hard frost. The sap can also be concentrated into syrup or sugar by boiling off some of the water and fermented to make birch beer or vinegar. Very young leaves, shoots, and catkins - raw or cooked. Tea can be brewed from the young leaves and root bark.

Harvest Data

Start Harvest: 01/09
End of Harvest: 31/10

Crown Data

Crown Type: Smal Piramidaal
Crown Density: Dichte kroon

Guilds

Guild Information

Click on a plant in the diagram for more information.

Guild Details

Guild Description
Sambucus canadensis
American Elder 		Sambucus can provide beneficial insects and attract pollinators, while Betula aids in nitrogen fixation and soil health.
Eriobotrya japonica
Loquat 		Eriobotrya can provide wind protection and microclimate benefits to Betula, enhancing growth conditions.
Crataegus monogyna
Hawthorn, Oneseed hawthorn 		Crataegus supports soil health with its deep roots, while Betula can provide shade and leaf litter mulch.
Malus domestica
Apple 		Malus can attract pollinators while Betula provides habitat and shade for beneficial insects.
Cornus mas
Cornelian cherry dogwood 		Cornus enhances the biodiversity of the ecosystem while benefiting from Betula's nitrogen-fixing properties.
Betula papyrifera
Paper Birch, Mountain paper birch, Kenai birch 		Acer provides additional shade and promotes a diverse microhabitat, improving soil stability around Betula.