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Betula alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis

Betula alleghaniensis Britton var. alleghaniensis

Yellow Birch

Betulaceae (Birch Family)

Synonym(s): Betula alleghaniensis var. fallax, Betula lutea, Betula lutea var. fallax

USDA Symbol: BEALA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)

This is the largest of the native birches. Never tear bark from living trees; you could scar or even kill the tree.

From the Image Gallery

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Lanceolate , Oblong , Obovate , Ovate
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Leaf Margin: Dentate , Serrate
Leaf Base: Cordate , Cuneate
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Inflorescence: Catkin
Fruit Type: Samara
Size Notes: Up to about 100 feet tall.
Autumn Foliage: yes

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: CT , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: MB , NB , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Habitat: Forest,Wet Meadow/Prairie/Field

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil Description: Loam

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Hummingbirds
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies , Hummingbirds
Larval Host: Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
(Papilio glaucus)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1990 VOL. 7, NO.1 - Congress Eyes Larger Issue, Research Update, Director's Report, Carlton B. Lees ...

Additional resources

USDA: Find Betula alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Betula alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Betula alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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