Paper Birch

Paper birch (Betula papyrifera), also known as canoe birch or white birch, is a deciduous tree of riparian and montane habitats in Banff National Park. Its white, peeling bark is iconic in northern forests.

Identification

White to cream bark that peels in papery sheets; dark horizontal lenticels; triangular, doubly serrate leaves; drooping male and upright female catkins in spring. Water birch (Betula occidentalis) occurs in wetter sites and has darker bark.

Habitat

Riparian zones, forest edges, and montane valleys (1,350–1,650 m). Often with aspen, spruce, and balsam poplar along streams and lakeshores.

Ecology

Pioneer species on disturbed sites; shade-intolerant; shaded out by conifers. Buds and seeds eaten by birds and small mammals; bark historically used by Indigenous peoples for canoes and containers.