Paper birch, Canoe Birch, White birch
Betula papyrifera
Family: Betulaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 18-25 m high. The trunk can be 40 cm across. It has tough papery bark. It is white and peels off in thin curling layers. (Some forms have orange white bark.) It has a sparse crown. The leaves are oval or triangle shaped. They are 5-10 cm long. The tip is pointed and the base is wedge shaped. Leaves have double teeth. The leaves are dull green above and paler underneath. The flowers are separately male and female. The male or pollen flowers are in catkins 1-3 cm long. These occur in clusters of 1-3. The seed catkins are erect and 1-2 cm long. The fruit are nutlets 1.5-2.5 mm long. These hang in the mature catkins. The brown samaras are edible.
There are about 60 Betula species. They grow in cool north temperate climates. The bark has high levels of betulinic acid and may have anti-cancer properties.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is very cold hardy. It grows on forest edges and lake shores. It will grow on a variety of soils. It cannot tolerate shade. It suits hardiness zones 2-8. Arboretum Tasmania.
Countries/locations it is found in
Alaska, Australia, Canada, Greenland, North America, Tasmania, USA
How it is used for food
The very young leaves, shoots and catkins can be eaten in salads or stir-fried dishes. The sap is used for a drink and can be boiled down to syrup or sugar. It can be used to make birch beer or vinegar. Birch syrup is used for ice cream, pancakes and in cocoa and coffee drinks. The young leaves are used for tea.
Birch syrup is produced commercially in Alaska.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves, sap, bark, leaves - tea
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed.
Trees live for 120 years. Sap flow is best on sunny days after a frost.