6 Types Of Birch Trees In California (Birch-Like Trees Included)
The delicate beauty and adaptability of birch trees are well known, and California is no stranger to this species. Even though more than 60 different native birch trees are found in North America alone, only two of them are native to the Golden State.
In this article, I will walk you through those two native birch trees in California, along with commonly found non-native varieties. Additionally, I will also show you a tree species that has birch-like leaves that might confuse you in identification.
So, let’s get started.
Native Birch Trees In California
There are only two native birch trees in California: Water birch and Resin Birch. All other birch varieties that are found in the state are non-native naturalized variants.
1. Resin Birch
- Scientific Name: Betula glandulosa
- Common Name(s): Resin Birch
- Mature Height: 1-6.5 ft
- Flowers: Catkins
- Uses: Ornamental, Basketry, etc.
The Resin Birch tree is a small shrub sought after for its decorative potential. These trees can grow anywhere from 30 cm (1 ft) to 2 m (6.5 ft) tall.
The maximum length of its egg-shaped, simple leaves is around 2.5 cm (1 in). The leaves are rounded at the end and have a wide, scalloped shape. There are resin glands on both the top and bottom of the leaves, although the top is darker green.
Catkins, which resemble cones and are 2 cm (.75 in) in length, contain winged nutlets on the tree. In addition to resin glands, the twigs are a drab grey color and waxy in texture. The tree’s bark is a uniform brown or grey and does not flake off.
This tree is common in riparian forests from Alaska to New England, south through the Rocky Mountains, and east of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada crest. In California, you can find it between the Warner Mountains and the Cascades at elevations of about 2,100 m (7,000 ft).
Even though Resin Birch is one of the only two native birch trees in California, they are relatively rare in the Golden State. Its bark has been utilized in traditional medicine, and its wood is helpful for basketry. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory characteristics of the tree’s resin were used in traditional medicine.
2. Water Birch
- Scientific Name: Betula occidentalis
- Common Name(s): Water Birch
- Mature Height: 10-40ft
- Flowers: Catkins
- Uses: Furniture, Cabinets, Flooring, etc.
Native to the mountainous regions of California and Oregon, water birch can grow to be a little tree or a huge shrub. It grows in moist areas from 600 m to 2700 m in altitude, usually near water.
In its natural habitat, this tree species can reach a height of 10–40 feet with several trunks and a wide, spreading crown. The Rocky Mountains, the Cascade Range, the southern Sierra Nevada, the Warner Mountains, and the eastern Klamath Mountains are all home to water birch forests.
Water birch bark is reddish-brown in color, glandular in texture, and does not peel. Its lenticels are very noticeable.
These trees have very distinguishable twigs and bark. Water birch trees have alternating, deciduous leaves that are broadly egg-shaped, have strongly double-serrated borders, and taper to sharp points at the ends. Fruits are little, wingless nuts that grow in cone-shaped catkins that are about 2.5 cm in length.
Water birch is a useful tree species for many reasons. It can tolerate flooding, and beavers often use its stems and branches to make dams. Small animals find it to be a great place to stay warm and hide because of how densely it grows and because it can form clumps with more than 100 stems from its base.
Its catkins, buds, and seeds are all edible to birds. Furniture, cabinets, and floors are not the only things this tree is good for.
Other Birch Trees In California
White birch, Silver birch, and Yellow birch are the three commonly found non-native birch trees in California. These are considered naturalized by humans who continually cultivated them for thousands of years.
1. White Birch
- Scientific Name: Betula papyrifera
- Common Name: White Birch
- Mature Height: Up to 70 feet tall
- Flowers: Brown or green catkins
- Uses: furniture, paper production, medicinal purposes, vine
The White Birch tree is a beautiful deciduous tree that is native to North America. It thrives in wet, chilly places like marshes and riparian zones, and it’s distributed over much of California. Up to 80 feet tall at maturity, this stunning tree is easily recognizable thanks to its white bark that sheds in papery, thin layers.
In the spring, elegant catkins, or flower clusters, dangle from the branches of a White Birch tree. White birch trees rely on wind for the pollination of their blossoms and the dispersal of their tiny seeds.
White birch trees are used in many industries, like those that make paper, furniture, and other things out of wood.
Landscapers and homeowners like the tree for its looks as well as for its practical uses as a windbreak and shade tree. White birch trees have been used in traditional medicine for a long time because the bark is good for you.
The White Birch stands out among other species due to its remarkable resilience in the face of adverse conditions. The fact that this tree survives subfreezing weather and high winds makes it a go-to for gardeners and landscapers in search of a resilient, low-maintenance tree.
2. Silver Birch
- Scientific Name: Betula pendula
- Common Name: Silver Birch
- Mature Height: Up to 70 feet tall
- Flowers: Brown or green catkins in the spring
- Uses: Construction, furniture, medicinal purposes, ornamental
The Silver Birch tree is a beautiful and graceful deciduous tree that grows in Europe and some parts of Asia. But they are often grown on farms in California and can be found there, especially in cooler, more humid places.
The most noticeable thing about this tree is its silvery-white bark, which can grow up to 70 feet tall, has a unique texture, and peels off in thin, horizontal strips.
The Silver Birch tree produces lovely catkins that hang from its branches in the spring. The little seeds produced by the catkins, which are often brown or green, are carried by the wind. The gorgeous fall foliage on this tree, which ranges in color from brilliant yellow to deep gold and offers a dramatic burst of color to any scene, is well known.
The Silver Birch tree is incredibly adaptable and practical. Its wood is sturdy and long-lasting, making it perfect for use in building and furniture creation.
The tree’s bark has been used for ages in traditional medicine to cure a variety of illnesses, such as rheumatism, fevers, and skin disorders. The Silver Birch tree’s ornamental qualities and hardiness make it a popular choice for landscapers and gardeners as well.
3. Yellow Birch
- Scientific Name: Betula alleghaniensis
- Common Name: Yellow Birch
- Mature Height: Up to 75 feet tall
- Flowers: Yellowish-brown catkins in the spring
- Uses: Furniture-making and flooring, bark for medicine
The Yellow Birch tree, also known as Betula alleghaniensis, is a majestic deciduous tree that is native to the northeastern region of North America. It has a gorgeous, golden-yellow bark that peels off in thin, horizontal strips and can reach a mature height of roughly 75 feet.
The ability of the Yellow Birch tree to thrive in a range of soil types, including nutrient-deficient soils, is one of its most distinctive characteristics. Moreover, it has a high degree of environmental adaptability and can endure harsh conditions including drought and extreme cold.
The yellowish-brown catkins of the Yellow Birch tree hang from its branches in the spring. The catkins produce tiny seeds that are spread by the wind. Many animals, like birds and small mammals, depend on these seeds for food.
The Yellow Birch tree is prized for its attractive, light-yellow, sturdy, and long-lasting wood. Wood from this tree is frequently used to make furniture, flooring, and cabinets. It is also used to make paper and other wood-based products.
Also, native people have used the Yellow Birch tree’s bark as medicine for thousands of years to treat things like fever, coughing, and kidney problems.
Native Birch-like Trees In California
These are some of the other native trees in California that have an appearance similar to the birch trees. So, when you are identifying trees during a hike, make sure that you don’t get confused by these.
1. Mountain Mahogany
- Scientific Name: Cercocarpus betuloides
- Common Name(s): Birchleaf Mountain-mahogany
- Mature Height: 6-25ft
- Flowers: White, funnel-shaped flowers
- Uses: Forage for wildlife
Cercocarpus betuloides, or birch leaf mountain-mahogany, is a small evergreen tree or shrub that can reach heights of up to 8 meters. The Central Point, Oregon location houses the world’s largest example of this species, which is 10.4 meters in height and 35 centimeters in diameter.
The elliptical leaves of the tree range in size from 12 to 25 millimeters. While the leaf’s upper side is smooth and sticky, the underside is covered in white hair. The leaves have serrated or scalloped edges and curl downward.
White, funnel-shaped flowers bloom on the birch leaf mountain mahogany, while the 5-7.5 centimeter long fruits are achenes with twisted, feathery styles. It has grey, smooth twigs and bark that peels off in square sections.
You can find this tree species in the foothills and slopes of most of California’s mountains, where chaparrals, dry woods, and woodlands thrive.
There are three different kinds of this tree, and they all have their quirks. The birch leaf mountain mahogany is different from other types because its leaves are smaller and there are fewer lateral veins.
The toothed-margin C. betuloides var. blancheae grows on the Channel Islands, while the elongated-leaf C. betuloides var. macrourus grows in the highlands to the north.
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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.
- California Forests, University Of California
- California Native Plant Society
- Native Plants, California Department Of Fish & Wildlife
- California Natural Diversity Database
