The Basics

Zones –3-7
Soil – Dry, sandy to rocky or wet.  Adaptable.
Light – Sun
Size – up to 30′
Tolerates – Deer, drought, poor soil, alkaline soil, clay soil
Attracts – Songbirds, Butterflies, Pollinators, Sap-suckers
Uses – Rain Garden, Naturalizing, 

Native Range

Typically found in wet to dry woods, lake margins, old fields.

Growing Grey Birch

Dry soil is perfect for Gray Birch!  It will grow in dry, sterile, sandy, rocky, and even wet soil. In fact, it will grow almost anywhere except highly alkaline (high pH) soil.   Grey Birch needs full sun, and is considered a ‘pioneer’ species, in that it can quickly establish in difficult areas.  It is a fast grower.  Like all pioneer species, and is relatively short-lived (15-25 years).

Appearance in the Landscape

It is typically a multi-stemmed tree whose delicate, pointed leaves waver in the wind.  The bark is dull white to gray, an attractive statement year round. In appearance it is similar to the non-native European White Birch, although it does not shed its bark.

Use gray birch for naturalizing, screening, and to rehabilitate disturbed land.

Ecological Function of Gray Birch

Several species of caterpillar and butterfly rely on Gray Birch for larval food. So don’t worry if you see some nibbled leaves. Pine Siskin and Black-Capped Chickadees feed on the seed. Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers go after the sap.  It is the larval host for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.