4 Common Birch Trees In Utah (Photos & Identification)

The state of Utah is well-known for its stunning scenery, and the state’s many birch tree species are no exception. The state is home to a couple of birch trees, which boast beautiful foliage and unusual bark and are adored all over the world. 

This article will take you on a detailed tour to see the four most common birch trees in Utah. We will explore their unique characteristics, environmental preferences, and global distribution to gain a deeper understanding of these magnificent trees.

So, let’s go on.

1. River Birch

• Common Name: River Birch
• Scientific Name: Betula nigra
• Mature Height: 40-70 feet
• Native/Non-Native: Native to eastern and southeastern U.S.
• Flowers/Cones: Small winged nutlets arranged in a cone-like catkin
• Uses: Possible alternative to European white birch, shade tree, ornamental tree

The River Birch, commonly known as Betula nigra, is a deciduous tree found in the eastern and southeastern United States. It can reach heights of 40-70 feet, making it an excellent shade tree as well as a beautiful ornamental tree in landscapes.

River Birch leaves are rhombic-ovate in shape with a double serrate border. They range in length from 1-1/2″ to 3-1/2″ and width from 3/4″ to 2-1/2″. The twigs are slender and red-brown in hue, with a hairy underside. Although there is no terminal bud, the lateral buds are pointed.

The River Birch produces little winged nutlets grouped in a cone-like catkin in late April. The bark is papery and thin, with a gorgeous salmon-pink to red-brown texture. The wood is inconsequential, but the color and texture of the bark make it an excellent accent to any landscape.

River Birch grows in cool, damp areas around streams and is shade intolerant. It is an excellent substitute for European white birch because it appears to have fewer borer problems. On high-pH soils, it may suffer from iron chlorosis.

2. European White Birch

• Common Name: European White Birch
• Scientific Name: Betula pendula
• Mature Height: Up to 75 feet
• Native/Non-Native: Non-Native
• Flowers/Cones: Cone-like catkins with small winged nutlets
• Uses: Landscape ornamentation

The European White Birch, commonly known as Betula pendula, is a lovely tree that may be found across Utah. This tree is distinguished by its weeping habit and chalky-white bark, which occasionally cracks into thin papery strips. The tree can reach heights of 75 feet and has oblong to diamond-shaped leaves with doubly serrate margins or finely lobes on some cultivars. The dark green leaves are 1 to 3 inches long, and the petiole is 1/2 to 3/4 inch long.

The tree produces catkins that hang down and contain little winged nutlets grouped in a cylindrical pattern. The fruit is scaly and is 3/4 to 1-1/4 inches in length. The tree’s twigs are slender and brown, with a weeping aspect that lends the tree an elegant appearance. 

On older stems, the bark of European White Birch develops rough, black, vertical furrows and has horizontal lenticels that are chalky white or brown. 

Although European White Birch is not native to Utah, it is widely planted and thrives in damp, well-drained soils. The tree dislikes shade and prefers cooler, moister conditions. 

Interestingly, while this tree is heavily impacted by borers in many locations of Utah, it is regarded as robust and borer-free in others, particularly in colder, moister environments in northern Utah’s Box Elder and Cache counties.

3. Paper Birch

• Common Name: Paper Birch 
• Scientific Name: Betula papyrifera
• Mature Height: 65 to 70 feet 
• Native/Non-Native: Native 
• Flowers/Cones: Catkins 
• Uses: Paper pulp, firewood, handles.

The Betula papyrifera, also known as the Paper Birch tree, is a well-known North American native. This tree may reach heights of up to 70 feet and has a diameter ranging from 12 to 20 inches. Its crown, which can be described as spherical or pyramid-shaped, has a charming appearance.

The bark of the Paper Birch tree is thin, smooth, and reddish-brown when young. However, as it ages, the bark progressively turns a creamy white color. The bark has many pores called “lenticels,” and it easily peels off in huge portions, exposing the orange inner bark. Inverted black V shapes serve as a visual indicator for branch scars.

The Paper Birch tree’s leaves are alternately oriented and oval or heart-shaped in shape. They have sharp points, rounded bases, and uneven serrated edges. The leaves thicken and become leathery as they age, having a dark green upper side and a yellowish-green underside.

The fruit of the tree is made up of catkins that are about an inch long and contain countless little, winged seeds. These seeds, which are about 1/6 inch long, form in August and September and disperse throughout the fall season, even emerging on the snow.

The Paper Birch tree grows prolifically throughout the state, especially in regions with superior sand and gravel soils mixed with pine and aspen trees.

The Paper Birch tree has wood that is sturdy, robust, and lightweight. It has a dark appearance, with crimson heartwood and virtually white sapwood. This tree’s wood is used to make spools, toothpicks, toys, handles, paper pulp, and interior finishes.

Northern Native Americans relied on birch bark from the Paper Birch tree for many years to make canoes, wigwams, baskets, cups, bags, and other utensils. As a result, this tree has been an important source of materials for both Native American civilizations and modern societies.

4. Water Birch

• Common Name: Water Birch
• Scientific Name: Betula occidentalis
• Mature Height: 30-40ft
• Native/Non-Native: Native to Utah
• Flowers/Cones: Fruit small winged nutlet arranged in a cone-like catkin

The Water Birch, scientifically known as Betula occidentalis, is a natural tree that may be found throughout much of the western United States and southern Canada. Among all the common birch trees in Utah, Water birch is the only native species in the state.

Its bark is thin and smooth, but there are noticeable, long, horizontal lenticels that break it up and give it a dark reddish-brown to almost purple luster that makes it easy to identify.

The tree is normally modest, with multiple stems growing from the base, but it can occasionally reach 30-40 feet tall. 

Water Birch leaves are alternating, oblong or somewhat rounded, and deciduous, measuring 1 to 2 inches long and 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches wide. The leaves are glabrous and thin, with a dark green color above and a pale yellow-green hue beneath, with a single or double serrate border, acute or acuminate apex, and moderately rounded base. The leaves turn a dingy yellow in the autumn season. 

Twigs of the Water Birch are bright green while young and dark red-brown as they grow. When young, they are glandular, but as they age, they become covered with horizontal lenticels. The buds are 1/4 inch long, lateral, pointy, resinous, and brown. 

This multi-stemmed tree looks wonderful in landscapes and grows well in locations that aren’t too hot and dry. It is likely more resistant to borers than other birches and may tolerate a somewhat high soil pH. Its intermediate shade tolerance makes it suitable for a wide range of situations.

The sapwood of the Water Birch is light in color, with light brown and diffuse-porous heartwood. It is a strong wood that is rarely utilized because it is not a particularly important wood. It is occasionally used for firewood and fence posts. 

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Common Birch Trees In Utah – Sources

The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.

1. Trees & Shrubs In Yard And  Garden, Utah State University Extension
2. Native & Non-Native Tree Identification, Utah State University Forestry Extension.
3. Native Plants, Utah Native Plant Society.
4. A Guide To The Trees Of Utah & Intermountain West, Book By Michael Kuhns, Utah State University Press.