Photo of Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)

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© aarongunnar

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CC BY 4.0

Inclusion in Plant ID / Comparison Guides

This photo is featured in 3 plant ID/comparison guides:

Gray Birch (Betula populifolia) vs. Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)

Updated December 15th, 2021

Gray and paper birch are easily confused where their ranges overlap in the northeast. Both have white bark and they can grow together in early-successional habitats. However, they can be easily distinguished by leaf shape or bark, and they also have differences in typical growth habit and maximum size. Gray birch ranges farther south, whereas paper birch ranges farther north and west. Paper birch can grow much taller and usually grows straighter.

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Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) vs. European White Birch (Betula pendula)

Updated July 28th, 2020

These two closely-related species are easily confused, as both have white bark that can peel. In most cases mature trees can be easily distinguished by characteristics of bark and leaf shape. Fruiting bodies are an even more definitive way to tell these trees apart. However, due to hybridization and a high amount of variability, it may not be possible to identify all individual trees.

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Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) vs. Mountain Paper Birch (Betula cordifolia)

Updated July 24th, 2020

These two species are visually similar, and were once considered different varieties of the same species. In some cases, they can be distinguished with difficulty by bark color and leaf characteristics. Because all these characteristics vary from tree to tree, and because the species hybridize readily, it is not possible to definitively ID all trees.

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