Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) — Plotwright

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Paper birch

Habit (mature) · Plant Image Library / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Limited coverage

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera

A northern native deciduous tree producing iconic white peeling-paper bark — among the most recognizable + photogenic of any temperate tree. Native to northern + boreal forests; declines in southern landscapes due to heat stress + bronze birch borer pressure. Short-lived (40-70 years) compared to most native canopy trees but provides outsized visual + wildlife value during that window.

Native: 22 US states + 7 CA provinces

Review: Source-backed

Climate fit: moderate (67/100)

Focal point

Structure

Light

Full sun / Part shade

Water

Consistent moisture

Mature size

600-840" tall · 360" apart

Hardy in zones

2a-7a

brutally cold to cold winters

Summer heat range

Cool-Mild

cool to mild summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.

Native in Illinois

Yes

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A documented larval host for the Cecropia moth and 3 other species — caterpillars feed on its foliage before becoming the next generation.

Wildlife relationships

Cold hardiness

Now

Zone 6b

USDA

Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day

Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer

Well-suited

2050

Zone 7b

Plotwright

Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)

Won't grow here

In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.

✓→✕

Well-suited today, but likely out of range by 2050.

Heat tolerance

°C

°F

Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…

Where this plant fits

Suitable across 32 ecoregions — 17 climate-resilient through 2070 · 15 suited today. Best matches first.

Blue Mountains forests

Canadian Aspen forests and parklands

Central Tallgrass prairie

Central-Southern Cascades Forests

Colorado Rockies forests

Eastern Cascades forests

Flint Hills tallgrass prairie

Nebraska Sand Hills mixed grasslands

Northeastern Coastal Forests

Northeastern Hardwoods

Sources & citations

Cite this page

For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.

Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Paper birch (Betula papyrifera). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/paper-birch

Sources for every fact

Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited — 18 source-backed.

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

University extension service

Backs 17 fields

Identity

Summary

Plant type

Light

Moisture

Hardiness

Heat zone

Size

Spacing

Habit

Design roles

Seasonal interest

Growth stages

Lifecycle

Regional guidance

Success tips

Designer notes

Wikimedia Commons

Photo · CC BY-SA 2.0

Backs 1 field

Image

Community photos

The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.

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