Betula populifolia
Gray Birch
The waxy diamond-shaped leaves of the Gray Birch shimmer in the wind much like Quaking Aspen. To tell it apart from other Birches you have to do some investigative work because the gray color of the bark is not always a clear sign. One way to distinguish a Gray Birch from other Birches, such as the Paper Birch for instance, is to see if the bark will peel off. Gray Birch’s bark does not peel easily. Another way to tell is by rolling a twig between your fingers. You’ll notice the twig is rough and bumpy. The male catkins most often appear singularly as compared to other Birches which usually bear catkins in clusters of two to three. Capable of growing in poorer soils, the Gray Birch is another pioneer species. It is adaptable and a good fit for difficult planting sites. It grows to approximately 30 feet and its native range is from Nova Scotia and Ontario to Delaware.