SafePlants

Mountain Paper Birch (Betula cordifolia)

The Mountain Paper Birch, scientifically known as Betula cordifolia, is a captivating tree native to Eastern Canada and the northern regions of the United States.

Common Names

• Mountain Paper Birch
• Mountain White Birch
• Eastern Paper Birch
• Heart-leaved Paper Birch

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Betula cordifolia Regel
• Family: Betulaceae (Birch Family)
• Synonyms:
  • Betula alba var. papyrifera
  • Betula lenta var. papyrifera
• Former classification: Betula papyrifera var. cordifolia (Regel) Fernald

Distribution and Habitat

This birch species is primarily found in:

• Eastern Canada
• The Great Lakes region
• The Appalachian Mountains
• Alpine and subalpine zones
• Forests, mountain summits, and plateaus
• Talus slopes
• Very rare in North Carolina, found only on rocky slopes at high elevation in the Black Mountains.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Medium-sized deciduous hardwood tree.
• Similar to Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) but distinguished by its tendency towards heart-shaped leaves.
• The western North America variety (Betula cordifolia var. subcordata) can reach 18 meters in height.
• Bark ranges from orange-brown to silver-gray.
• Twigs are purplish to red-brown.

Quirky Facts

• A Mountain Paper Birch in Michigan was recognized as the largest known tree of its kind by American Forests Champion Trees in 1973.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• White-tailed deer are known to consume significant amounts of paper birch (including Mountain Paper Birch) leaves.