genus
Birches
Betula
Field notes
A birch is a thin-leaved deciduous hardwood tree of the genus Betula (), in the family Betulaceae, which also includes alders, hazels, and hornbeams. It is closely related to the beech-oak family Fagaceae. The genus Betula contains 30 to 60 known taxa of which 11 are on the IUCN 2011 Red List of Threatened Species. They are typically short-lived pioneer species and are widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in northern areas of temperate climates and in boreal climates. Birch wood is used for a wide range of purposes.
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- Silver Birch introduced
- Paper Birch native
- Yellow Birch native
- River Birch native
- Downy Birch introduced
- Sweet Birch native
- Gray Birch native
- Dwarf Birch native
- Water Birch native
- Swamp Birch native
- Dwarf Resin Birch native
- Heartleaf Paper Birch native
- Alaska Paper Birch native
- Siberian Birch present
- Himalayan Birch introduced
- Erman's Birch present
- Dahurian Birch
- Shrubby Birch
- Dwarf Bog Birch
- Middendorf's Spreading Birch
- Newfoundland Dwarf Birch
- Dwarf White Birch native
- Ribbed Birch
- China Birch
Range
Greener is more native, amber more introduced; paler is less certain. How this was decided
Key traits
- Layer
- Trees
From USDA PLANTS.
Top native birches All
Native to the US, ranked by caterpillars, then bees and other hosts, food, flowers and shelter.
-
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
keystone
caterpillars
395
hosts
18
food
68
flowers
7
shelter
2
-
Yellow Birch
Betula alleghaniensis
keystone
caterpillars
312
hosts
17
food
61
flowers
6
shelter
1
-
Gray Birch
Betula populifolia
keystone
caterpillars
290
hosts
15
food
48
flowers
6
-
Swamp Birch
Betula pumila
keystone
caterpillars
289
hosts
15
food
48
flowers
4
-
River Birch
Betula nigra
keystone
caterpillars
287
hosts
15
food
47
flowers
31
shelter
1
-
Sweet Birch
Betula lenta
keystone
caterpillars
282
hosts
21
food
49
flowers
10
shelter
1
-
Dwarf Resin Birch
Betula glandulosa
keystone
caterpillars
263
hosts
13
food
39
flowers
3
-
Heartleaf Paper Birch
Betula cordifolia
caterpillars
263
hosts
13
food
36
flowers
4
-
Water Birch
Betula occidentalis
keystone
caterpillars
171
hosts
10
food
26
flowers
2
-
Dwarf Birch
Betula nana
keystone
caterpillars
102
hosts
6
food
39
flowers
1
-
Alaska Paper Birch
Betula neoalaskana
keystone
caterpillars
74
hosts
6
food
14
-
Virginia Roundleaf Birch
Betula uber