Betula alleghaniensis (Fr: bouleau jaune | En: yellow birch)

Yellow Birch

Betula alleghaniensis
Alternative names: Golden Birch, Swamp Birch
French: Bouleau jaune, Merisier

The Yellow Birch is the official tree of Quebec—and with good reason. Its bark shimmers in tones of silver, gold, or copper, giving the tree a striking appearance in the forest. It is one of the most valuable native hardwoods, with durable, fine-grained wood used in flooring, cabinetry, furniture, and millwork.

Yellow Birch contains wintergreen oil in its bark, buds, and roots, giving it a sweet aroma reminiscent of root beer. This flavour is also present in the fresh spring sap, which can be consumed as a refreshing drink. However, if the sap is boiled to make syrup, the wintergreen aroma is lost, and the resulting syrup becomes sweet and more comparable to that of Paper Birch.

Twigs and buds can be steeped to make a pleasant wintergreen tea. This combination of edible, medicinal, and craft uses makes Yellow Birch a fascinating species to include in naturalized plantings.

In the wild, Yellow Birch often germinates on decaying logs and stumps. As the wood decays away, the roots are left exposed, giving older trees a dramatic “octopus-like” base.

Ecologically, the tree supports a wide range of wildlife. Buds and twigs feed mammals and game birds, and it is a host plant for several butterflies and moths. It thrives in moist, organically rich soils in shady sites like north-facing hillsides and hemlock swamps.