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Birch is one of the most common trees in the Northern Hemisphere, including in Russia. However, contrary to popular belief, not all types of birch trees have a common characteristic feature - white or at least light-colored bark. In general, they differ not only in appearance, but also in other characteristics, which is expressed in the choice of different habitats.
Description
Conventionally, all types of birch trees are divided by botanists into four groups:
- Alba. Relatively low (up to 15 m) trees with snow-white or similar shade bark and a rounded, fairly symmetrical crown. Typical representatives are common birch, downy birch, and Karelian birch. Among the species that do not originally grow in Russia is the North American paper birch.
- Nana (Nanae). Low slate trees or bushy forms. As a rule, they are characterized by thin shoots and small leaves. Typical representatives are the spreading and lean birch species.
- Costata (Costatae). Includes the most decorative types of birch trees. This applies not only to the appearance, but also to the wood - it is very dense, in beautiful shades (from creamy white and pale yellow to dark cherry and almost black).In most species, as they grow, “ribs” appear at the base of the trunk, and the veins on the leaves become depressed. The group includes Dahurian birch, iron birch, Erman birch, Medvedev birch, and Japanese cherry birch.
- Acuminatae. Unites subtropical species. They are distinguished by their high “growth” (minimum 20 m, on average 30-50 m with a trunk diameter of about 1.5 m) and large leaf size. The most common species in nature are Maksimovich, Jacquemont, brilliant, useful.
Birch is a type of deciduous tree, numbering about 120 “representatives”; he belongs to the family and genus of the same name
Varieties of birch in Russia with photos and names
Now in Russia, in addition to the species that originally grew on its territory, you can also find those that were “brought” here, for example, from North America. Most of them adapt well, “integrate” into local ecosystems, without turning into “aggressors”.
Hanging
The natural habitat of this species is wider than that of others. It includes almost all of Europe (except for the Iberian Peninsula and territories with a similar climate), Siberia, northern Africa, Western and Central Asia. Silver birch has successfully “migrated” to South America and is planted there as an ornamental crop.
It reaches a height of 25-30 m with a trunk diameter of 70-80 cm. The “girth” of the crown is 7-12 m.The bark of young specimens is brown; it acquires a typical off-white shade for the species only at the age of 6-8 years, when enough of the specific phytohormone betulin accumulates in the tissues. As the tree ages, the bark at the base of the trunk becomes covered with deep black cracks.
Often in nature, two types of birches – downy and silver – grow “together”
Dwarf
The most common type of low-growing birch. Its natural habitat is the tundra in Europe, Siberia and North America.
The average height is 20-70 cm, occasionally this species “stretches” up to 1.2 m. Depending on the growing conditions, the shape of the shoots varies from semi-raised to prostrate. The leaves are very small (0.5-1.5 cm in length and 1-2 cm in width), of an unusual wide wedge-shaped shape.
Dwarf birch prefers moist, even swampy substrate
Karelian
A natural mutation of silver birch, which, according to the most common point of view, arose as a result of its infection with a certain type of virus. There are other versions, for example, the specificity of mineral nutrition or a congenital disease that changes the genotype of the plant.
After this, the texture of the wood changed dramatically, thanks to which Karelian birch is consistently in demand among furniture manufacturers.Its cross-sectional design indeed looks very unusual - chocolate-brown “blobs” on a general creamy-yellow background.
According to other characteristics, Karelian birch does not differ from silver birch. Its natural habitat, as you might guess, is limited to the Republic of Karelia. At the moment, the “natural” population of the species has decreased to 3,000 trees, and they are actively trying to restore it in nature reserves.
Another characteristic feature of Karelian birch is the almost inevitable presence of a burl on the trunk
Daurian (Korean)
The species has another name - Far Eastern black birch. The tree prefers to settle along river banks, on well-drained slopes of mountains and hills. Its habitat includes the south of Siberia, the Far East, Mongolia, northeast China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan. It is limited, among other things, due to increased requirements for the quality of the substrate and light-loving properties. This species is a reliable “indicator” of the absence of swampy soil and its suitability for farming.
The approximate height of the Dahurian birch is 6-18 m. The trunk is quite thin (30-60 cm). The color of the bark varies from graphite gray to black. As wood ages, it becomes severely cracked and delaminate. The shoots are widely “spread out”, rising obliquely upward.
Dahurian birch “rises” to the mountains by a maximum of 300-400 m
Squat
Rare shrub species. It reaches a maximum height of 1.5 m. The shoots are straight. The bark is smooth to the touch, brown-brown in color, and even on old trees it does not crack or flake.
Natural habitat - Far Eastern and Siberian swamps, northern Mongolia. This species is much less common in central Ukraine and marshy meadows in Western Europe.
Unlike most species, squat birch seeds take a long time to ripen - until September-October.
Iron
This rare relict species is also called Schmidt birch. Its habitat is a very small area in the south of Primorye. Individual specimens are found in China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula.
The height of the tree reaches 25-35 m with a trunk diameter of 70-80 cm. There is a taproot and 3-4 large lateral roots. The bark is in different shades of cream, beige, brown with a grayish undertone. It is covered with numerous cracks, peeling and flaking. The resulting “pattern” often resembles tiles.
However, the main feature of this species is its pinkish wood. It is very heavy, dense, with almost imperceptible annual “rings”. Wood does not burn without preliminary long-term drying and is extremely difficult to machine.
Iron birch grows slowly, but the species can be considered a long-liver
Red
Also called Yarmolenko birch. Endemic species under threat of extinction.It grows exclusively in Kazakhstan and is listed in the Red Book of this state.
Red birch lives at an altitude of about 2000 m above sea level. Also, for normal development, trees of this species need a fairly cold climate and a substrate consisting almost entirely of stones, large pebbles, crushed stone, with the addition of sand or clay.
The tree is short (up to 5 m, usually 2-3 m), thin-trunked, very elegant. Despite the name, the bark can be not only red, but also yellowish and even gray. The leaves are very small (2-2.5 cm) with pubescent veins.
Red birch is a very valuable species that can resist waterlogging of mountain rivers and the accumulation of sediments in them
Birch Erman (stone)
In Russia it is found exclusively in the Trans-Ural region. Also grows in China, Mongolia, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula. Prefers low-nutrient rocky substrate.
The young tree is extremely reminiscent of the “classic” Russian birch, very common in the middle zone. However, at the age of about 150 years, its white bark sharply thickens to at least 2.5 cm, changes color to grayish-brown, and acquires a tiled pattern. The wood is extremely dense, sinks in water, and is resistant to processing and other mechanical stress.
The height of the tree is 12-15 m, less often up to 20 m. The diameter of the trunk is 50-90 cm. Depending on the place of growth, the shoots can be either erect or prostrate. Not far from the sea, this view turns into a “trellis” due to the characteristics of the winds.
Erman's birch mainly grows in the form of single trees or small groups in mixed or coniferous mountain forests
Other types
There are quite a lot of species that differ from their “relatives” in their original “appearance”:
- Cherry. The bark is a rich cherry hue, shimmering scarlet in the sun. The pyramidal crown turns into a spherical one as it grows. The leaves are unusually large (10-12 cm).
In spring, cherry birch shoots are almost invisible under the “earrings” inflorescences
- Curly. The crown is very thick, but at the same time lush, as if openwork. This happens due to the unusual configuration of the shoots. The leaves are diamond-shaped and shine silver in the sun.
The lifespan of curly birch directly depends on the comfortable conditions for this species in the place of growth
- Bolotnaya. Low-growing (up to 5 m) tree. The shoots are directed vertically upward. As it ages, the snow-white bark turns dark gray.
Swamp birch, despite its name, takes root in dry soil; in addition, it is light-loving and not cold-resistant
- Twisty. The tree is 5-6 m high. The thin trunk seems to be “twisted” at least once; it and its shoots are characterized by sharp bends. Accordingly, the crown of this species seems to be “ragged”, sparse
Depending on the growing conditions, the bark of birch can be almost white, grayish or light brown
How to choose for the garden
Considering that birch trees can be very different in appearance, you can choose a species that will harmoniously “fit” into most landscape design concepts. The following points must be taken into account:
- Land area.The original shape of the crown and “weeping” look most impressive from a distance of at least 6-8 m. The unusual pattern of the bark, leaves, and other details are best seen close up.
- Basic characteristics. Any “natural” species, as well as a variety bred by breeders, shows its decorativeness to the maximum if, when choosing a planting site, its “requirements” regarding light, quality of the substrate, its humidity and acid-base balance are taken into account.
- Cold resistance. If this region is not the natural habitat of the selected birch species, perhaps the reason is its heat-loving nature. In this case, even high-quality care and shelter for the winter will not save the tree.
- Description of an adult plant. The height and diameter of the trunk, the “girth” of the crown of many types of birch trees allow us to classify them as “large-sized”. Therefore, you need to think in advance whether there will be enough space for them in the future.
Birch looks simple and modest, but at the same time graceful and elegant
In particular, it is believed that a tree planted next to a house literally “sucks” happiness out of it, creating constant problems and conflicts.
Conclusion
Numerous species of birch trees differ noticeably not only in appearance, but also in other characteristics, which is reflected in the choice of different habitats. Most of the natural varieties and varieties bred on their basis by breeders are actively used in landscape design. Due to the characteristic features of the tree, it is quite difficult to choose “companions” for it, but this is a completely solvable task.
