Profile

40 - 50 (feet)

20 - 30 (feet)

Oval pyramid form with weeping habit with age; green leaves turning a poor yellow fall color; white, non-peeling bark when young turning black with fissures with age; prefers moist, well-drained soil; tolerates wet or dry soils.

Subject to pathogens, insects; very susceptible to birch borer, although this is not a common pest in most of Alaska; often confused with B. papyrifera but does not have peeling white bark.

SC, SE (Zone 2)

Europe and parts of northern Asia

‘Dalecarlica’ Swedish birch; the most common cut-leaved birch; tall slender tree with weeping branches; leaves lobed and pointed; ‘Fastigiata’ columnar form with some resistance to birch borer; ‘Gracilis’ Weeping branches in clusters; a small tree to 15’; finely cut leaves; ‘Youngii’ weeping form reaching 15’–20’.

May spread invasiveness unknown - Monitor plantings for spread