Paper Birch

Paper birch is the beautiful white-barked deciduous tree of northern forests, present at the northern edge of Western Washington in foothill and montane areas. The distinctive white or cream-colored bark exfoliates in thin, papery layers, revealing orange-brown to reddish inner bark; the bark becomes darker and less exfoliating with age. The leaves are oval, finely toothed, and turn bright yellow in fall. Male catkins are long and drooping, female catkins are upright. The tree reaches 50-70 feet in favorable sites and develops a pyramidal crown that becomes more open and rounded with age. The wood is light-colored and fine-grained.

In Western Washington, paper birch is marginal for lowland landscapes but performs well in foothill and mountain transitions. The tree requires full sun, moist but well-drained soils, and cool summers; it declines in hot, dry, or compacted sites. The bark provides year-round interest and is prized by landscape designers, but the tree's susceptibility to bronze birch borer (an exotic beetle) and various canker diseases makes long-term management challenging. The shallow root system can damage pavement and drainage lines. The tree is most successful in cooler, northern-facing aspects or at higher elevations where summer temperatures are moderate. For Western Washington lowlands, consider alternatives like quaking aspen or native alder species that are better adapted to our maritime climate. For foothill and montane sites where paper birch is at its ecological edge, it can be a useful species if you understand its limitations and provide appropriate drainage and air movement.