Paper Birch

That's good to know!

I was beginning to wonder if I had brought home an alder of some sort. It was just a little brown whip when I found it so was relying on location, in amongst larger Betula papyrifera, for identification. It started growing like crazy right from the start. But I'm not complaining. :-)

Thanks again!

Just an update:

The tree has been growing vigorously but did have a little branch die back last winter, that I may have pruned prematurely, so it looks a little thin at the inmost sections but it's coming back strong. The sucker I left to grow is almost the same diameter and size as the main tree and is starting to show white bark. It's on the sunny SE side of the main tree. Leaves are still green and I'm attributing that to timely rains and week long of mid 80's f that came early last week.

Picture direction from other side of trunks.

8-5-2023 update

The paper birch doesn't like the dry seasons we've been having.

Showing the stress of 3 pretty dry seasons in a row.

It seems healthy still, but the leaves are thin and yellow, even fall early.

But it's really starting to show white bark quite high up.

They have neat bark for sure.

Some trees just like dropping leaves like they're easy to make lol. It does look a little thin towards the top right in particular.

Generally, you don't see this tree growing in dry locations. Its happy place is the transition zones where the high ground tapers down into the wet areas.

Embothrium once warned us about planting water loving trees into dry areas.

It's going to rain any day now. ;-)

10-21-2023:

I poured the water on several times this season. It's hanging in there.

The white has spread to the entire tree area except the smaller branches and branch tips.

There are others growing in the yards around me.

I do see what could be a few cankers.

Paper birch does make beautiful decorative logs placed in a pile next to the fireplace but hopefully it doesn't come to that in my lifetime. ;-)