Tuesday, 06 September 2011 15:17

Betula / Birch - What Kind?

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Question:  My Landscaper planted a tree for me. The red tag on it just reads Betula Birch.
Is there any easy way for me to tell which Bertula this is ?
Thank You

Thomas M.  - Levittown, NY

Answer: Easiest way is to ask your landscaper.  (Obviously it did not come from us or else it would have had a tag with the full identity on it.)  Otherwise you get to play detective and probably wait for the tree to be several years old to see its true characteristics.  You will be looking for:

What color is the bark (Tan, white, bright white)?   Does the bark exfoliate (shed or peel)?  How tall is the tree?  Does it weep a little or a lot?  These true characteristics will not show up in a juvenile tree.

Then you compare your findings with published literature or drag your favorite local nurseryman down for a visit if he/she knows his/her trees.  Or have your local college horticulture teacher put it on the next test for the studentsSmile.

Most of the information can be found in your local library or as a Google search.  When using Google, chose photos from a repsponsible source such as well respected universities or nurseries - not just someone who posted a photo and might have mis-named it.

Good luck.

Ron Ludekens 9-6-2011