Yellow Birch

Yellow birch (*Betula alleghaniensis*), also called golden birch or swamp birch, is a large deciduous tree native to northeastern North America.

Yellow birch (*Betula alleghaniensis*), also called golden birch or swamp birch, is a large deciduous tree native to northeastern North America. It is valued for its yellow-to-bronze peeling bark, hard wood, and importance in cool, moist northern forests. The species is the largest native birch in North America and is long-lived compared with many other birches.

Description

Yellow birch is a medium to large deciduous tree with shiny, peeling bark that becomes yellowish-bronze with age. It produces winged seeds and has yellow autumn foliage.

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to northeastern North America and is associated with cool, moist forests, often growing with hardwoods and conifers. It is common in eastern Canada and parts of the northern United States.

Uses

Yellow birch is highly valued for its strong, close-grained wood, which is used in furniture, cabinetry, flooring, doors, veneer, and other products. It has also been noted as browse for deer and moose.

Ecology and life history

Yellow birch is a slow-growing, long-lived tree that can regenerate from seed and stump sprouts. Seedlings often establish in moist crevices, on rocks, and on nurse logs.