Betula alleghaniensisIndiana Native
Yellow Birch

Family:

Betulaceae (Birch Family) 28

Genus:

Betula (Birch) 12

Plant Type:

Tree 569

Growth Forms:

Upright 574

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 3 233

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 839

Flower Notes:

Brown (Catkins in the spring, 1 to 1 1/2" long, 3/4" thick; not ornamentally important)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Glossy dark green summer foliage); Yellow (Yellow fall foliage)

Stem Notes:

slender, yellowish brown stems, slight wintergreen scent when crushed

Fruit Notes:

Brown (Samaras in the Summer, 2-winged 1/8" nutlets inside; Not ornamentally important)

Ultimate Height:

60-75 feet

Ultimate Spread:

50-60 feet

Bloom Times:

Fruiting Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Water Requirements:

Medium 203

Soil Notes:

Especially well adapted to cool, wet soils; does not do well in hot, dry situations.

Range:

Eastern North America

Maintenance:

Low 274

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves are alternate, simple, 3-5" long and half as wide; larger than Betula papyrifera. Often heart-shaped base. Doubley toothed. Shining yellow-brown to red-brown bark exfoliating in thin shreds and with prominent horizontal lenticels. Freshly crushed stems smell and taste of wintergreen.

Ecological Functions:

Purdue Plant Doctor

Parts and Problems of Birch

Special Characteristics:

Additional Information

Graceful tree, interesting for its shining bark beginning yellowish or bronze and exfoliating in thin shreds, becoming reddish brown until finally forming blackish-brown plates. Especially well adapted to wet soils. Does not do well in dry situations. Less subject to the borer troubles of B. papyrifera in the Midwest.

Plant Photo Gallery

Habit

Leaf

Bark

Bark Close-up

Bark

Emerging Foliage

Immature Female Catkins

Immature Female Catkin

Mature Female Catkins

Immature Male Catkins

Mature Male Catkins

Flowers and Foliage

Bark

Flowers and Foliage

Catkins and Buds

Flowers

When Betula alleghaniensis has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

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Fruiting

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Week 1 fruiting not present	Week 2 fruiting not present	Week 3 fruiting not present	Week 4 fruiting not present	Week 5 fruiting not present	Week 6 fruiting not present	Week 7 fruiting not present	Week 8 fruiting not present	Week 9 fruiting not present	Week 10 fruiting not present	Week 11 fruiting not present	Week 12 fruiting not present	Week 13 fruiting not present	Week 14 fruiting not present	Week 15 fruiting not present	Week 16 fruiting not present	Week 17 fruiting not present	Week 18 fruiting not present	Week 19 fruiting not present	Week 20 fruiting not present	Week 21 fruiting not present	Week 22 fruiting not present	Week 23 fruiting not present	Week 24 fruiting not present	Week 25 fruiting not present	Week 26 fruiting not present	Week 27 fruiting present	Week 28 fruiting present	Week 29 fruiting present	Week 30 fruiting present	Week 31 fruiting present	Week 32 fruiting present	Week 33 fruiting present	Week 34 fruiting present	Week 35 fruiting present	Week 36 fruiting not present	Week 37 fruiting not present	Week 38 fruiting not present	Week 39 fruiting not present	Week 40 fruiting not present	Week 41 fruiting not present	Week 42 fruiting not present	Week 43 fruiting not present	Week 44 fruiting not present	Week 45 fruiting not present	Week 46 fruiting not present	Week 47 fruiting not present	Week 48 fruiting not present	Week 49 fruiting not present	Week 50 fruiting not present	Week 51 fruiting not present	Week 52 fruiting not present

10 Betula alleghaniensis found

Building Map...

= Heritage plant = Memorial plant

Number	Accession ID	Location
1	2009_13577*A	HORTPARK
2	2009_13576*A	HORTPARK
3	2023_00367*A	BIND
4	2023_00367*B	BIND
5	2023_00367*C	BIND
6	2023_00367*D	BIND
7	2023_00367*E	TERY
8	2023_00367*F	BIND
9	2023_00367*G	TERY
10	2023_00367*H	BIND