| National Champion
| Yellow Birch Betula alleghaniensis Gould City, Mackinaw County Upper Peninsula, Michigan Circumference = 198 inches (16.5 feet)
|
The Yellow Birch, also called Silver Birch and Swamp Birch, is one of the most important timber trees in eastern North America. It sometimes reaches a height of 100 feet and a diamter of 4 feet.The Yellow Birch deserves to be classed as an important forest tree, for it reaches large size, produces valuable wood, propagates easily, and has few enemies.
In August 2000, township supervisor Don McArthur and his grandson guided Champion Tree Project founder David Milarch deep into a State Forest on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This Yellow Birch is estimated to be at least 500 years old, assuming normal Upper Peninsula growth rates of 1/8 to 1/4 inch per year. A crack runs from ground level high up the tree—a scar from a recent lightning strike. Another deeper 18 inch wide fissure runs up the trunk, with black charcoal inside—testimony this tree survived a great fire in 1890. Using an extension ladder and a pruning pole, David Milarch was able to harvest a few bud cuttings from the lowest limbs.
IdentificationLeaves are simple, alternate, egg-shaped, 2 to 5 inches long, On last season's growth, they occur singly; on older twigs in pairs, but never opposite each other.
Flowers appear before leaves. Pollen-bearing are arranged in drooping tassels 3 to 4 inches long.
Fruit is an erect cylindrical spike, 1.5 to 2 inches long; fruit scales are hairy, unequally lobed. Seeds are small winged nutlets with 3-lobed scales.
Bark is readily recognized, ragged, yellow, peels off in thin, papery scales.
Wood is heavy, hard, strong, brownish with yellow sapwood.
Culture
Soils:
Seedlings:
Saplings:
Special:
Problems:
Cultivars:
Related Species: