4 Reasons Why Birch Trees Can’t Grow In The Shade

Birch trees are deciduous trees. This means they lose their leaves in the winter. They require full sun, which is up to six hours, and prefer cool soil.

Birch trees are very adaptive and hardy. They can thrive in many types of soil, as well as in various climates. However, most birch trees cannot grow in the shade because they need full sun to stay healthy. While they can grow in partial shade, balance is important for your tree to thrive.

Whether you hope to grow a birch tree in your shadier yard or you have one already and have some concerns about its health, I hope this article helps you! Keep reading to find out more about how to care for your birch trees.

Where Do Birch Trees Grow Best?

Birch trees are in the family of Betulaceae, which includes hazelnuts, alder, and hornbeams. Their light-colored bark, thin leaves, and shading properties are their most recognizable traits. Their bark peels off in sheets as well.

This tree makes a wonderful landscaping tree because of its unique look! Striking colors stand out in any yard and provide a special interest. Adding other plants in the backdrop can help make this tree even better. 

Birch trees’ size varies based on their species. They flower beautiful flora. 

These trees do best on the north or east sides of buildings. This guarantees they receive full sun in the mornings and shade in the evenings. 

Birch trees are very forgiving. The only things they will not enjoy are overly wet or dry soils. They grow well in zones two through nine; however, this varies by species.

How To Care For Birch Trees

These trees can grow upwards of thirty feet. They have a shallow root system and need to be watered well. However, they dislike too much water. Mulch will help retain a decent moisture quality for the roots without being excessive.  

Each variety has different requirements, though. Water Birch does very well in flooding zones, unlike others of its kind. Consider soil quality before you plant. 

Prune your tree in late fall or winter. Birch trees lose sap if cut during spring and summer because of the growth patterns of the tree. Bores can also be a big issue on trees, but you can treat them by applying an insecticide. Bonide Annual Tree and Shrub Insect Control is a fantastic purchase if you are looking for one!

Can Birch Trees Grow In The Shade?

Birch trees need full sun to grow, or around six hours a day. However, they will tolerate partial shade. The shade helps them by providing a cooler environment which they enjoy. 

Finding the right balance between shade and sun is important for the proper growth of the tree. It is important to remember that while they will grow in partial shade; they are not shade trees. Allowing them to have enough sun is important for the trees’ overall health. 

Most species, however, do not appreciate shade and must have full sun to grow properly. You should consider this before planting.

Some varieties can grow in the shade, but that does not mean all will. Research the individual trees you are interested in for the best results while growing. 

Can White Birch Grow In The Shade?

Like most birch trees, plant white birch trees in the sun. These are medium-sized trees and can reach heights of 50 to 70 feet tall. They do, however, make excellent shade trees. 

You may also see white birch trees referred to as paper birch or canoe trees. This is because their bark peels in sheets, which look like paper, and their lumber makes fantastic canoes.

Catkins are the flowers of these trees, and the male and female catkins grow on the same tree. The only difference is the female catkins drop seeds. 

White birches will often grow in areas after a fire when much of the plant matter has died. Water this tree well and add mulch around the base to help the soil retain moisture.

Do Silver Birch Trees Grow In The Shade?

Silver birch trees are shade intolerant. They grow in Asian and European countries and favor colder climates. This tree is beautiful to look at, as it has stark white bark with black coloring placed on it. 

This tree is a marvel to see. It grows where others will not and among other conifer types. It can tolerate many soil types as well. 

When the leaves turn yellow in the fall, it provides a beautiful landscape. This tree can grow between 30-50 feet tall and it makes quite a mess when the catkins and leaves fall to the ground. 

Partial shade may be beneficial, especially in warmer climates; however, you should not plant them in full shade. 

What Climate Do Birch Trees Grow In?

Birch trees are native to regions of cooler climates. These include Europe, Northern states, Asia, and Canada. They grow best in zones 2-7 and thrive in wet sandy soil. 

This also depends on the species. There are over 40 species of Birch. These vary by size, color, and location.

Sweet birch trees, for example, are native to Eastern North America. The oils from Sweet Birch trees are often used to make birch beer. This is like root beer and has a nice wintergreen flavor. 

Another wonderful variety is the Himalayan Birch. This tree is unique because it grows high in the Nepal mountains. It looks similar to all the other varieties and grows catkins as well.

Sometimes, you will hear birch trees called paperbark. This makes sense, seeing as many used birch bark as paper before the invention of modern paper.

Are Birch Trees Fast-Growing?

The growth of birch trees depends on a variety of factors. They grow roughly 18 to 20 inches a year, which is a little higher than average. 

Factors to birch tree growth rate are:

• Nutrition
• Soil quality
• Sunlight amount
• Water amount

If given proper care, this tree will thrive. 

What Are The Benefits Of Birch Bark?

The Ojibwa Indians used Birch bark for many uses. They used birch to make canoes, dishes, and many other wood products. They used the bark for most of their crafting, as it is naturally waterproof. 

The bark can also make a brown dye and oil for leather. The Native Americans used these trees in so many ways!

Birch sap has a similar collection process to maple syrup. After collection, the sap gets turned into a sweet syrup and has its place in the culinary world. It is also a key ingredient in birch beer.

Why Should You Plant Birch Trees In Threes?

Growing Birch trees in threes can be a fantastic way to keep trees shorter. This is because the crowding restricts the growth of the tree. 

This method can also make for a wonderful look for your landscape. It also lessens the amount of maintenance needed because less pruning is not as necessary. Be sure to plant the groups at least 5 feet apart. 

Three is also a popular number in designing. Like comedy, most things come in threes. With landscaping, this is because of the eye-catching ability the threes have. 

How Sun Do Birch Trees Need?

Birch tree sunlight requirements vary by species. The average is around six hours of full sun a day. 

These trees will do better on the north or east side of any structure. This is due to the way the sun rises and falls. Doing this will ensure they receive the proper amount of light they need to function. 

You can help the tree get more sunlight by pruning it. Another option is pruning the branches on any surrounding trees. This helps open the canopy for more light to come through. 

The best course of action at ensuring proper sunlight is making sure you plant your tree properly. Research the variety you decide to plant and determine if it is right for your area. Once you determine that, choose the best area in your yard.

How Do Birch Trees Survive?

These trees survive by placing themselves where other plants die. After forest fires, these trees love to take over. Along with being able to handle most soil types and lots of water, this tree becomes the ultimate survivalist. 

These trees adapt well to their climate. Since they often live through the harsh winters, this tree has adapted for survival. Flexible branches and losing leaves help this tree live through the cold. The branches flex to hold up under the weight of snow and the loss of leaves helps prevent freezing. 

This tree also has thick bark, which insulated the inside of the tree, preventing the inside water from freezing. These adaptations are important to helping the tree survive. 

Tragically, many factors have led to some varieties of birch trees becoming endangered. Betula murrayana or the Murray birch is one of these. This tree is native to Canada and Michigan and is critically endangered.  

Can You Save A Dying Birch Tree?

The first step to saving any dying plant is to discover why it is dying.

There are many reasons that a birch tree may suffer and appear to be dying, which include:

• Pests
• Lack of water
• Diseases
• Not the right amount of sun

Once you decide on the issue leading to your issue, it is important to decide on proper treatment. 

If it is pests, you need to figure out what pest it is to determine the proper treatment. Birch leafminers and bronze birch borer are the main two pests that affect most Birch trees. However, it is the bronze birch borer that can kill the tree. 

These borers bore into the bark and feed on the trees. The only proper way to treat this problem is to catch it early and prune infected branches. 

Birch trees need plenty of water. The solution to this is simple: mulch around the tree and water it more often. Mulching will help retain more moisture and thus eliminate dryness. 

Diseases that affect the birch trees are not so easy to treat. The best way to treat these diseases is prevention because a healthy tree is less likely to succumb to diseases. Make sure your tree gets ample sunlight and care for your trees properly.

How Do You Grow A Birch Tree From A Branch?

Propagating can be a rewarding experience. Propagating is the act of taking a cutting from a plant and growing roots from it. This is an easy way to help produce new plants from existing stock. 

Propagating can be a great way to grow trees, as they take less time to mature. It is also quite simple with most trees.

All you need is clean pruning shears, rooting hormone, and rooting medium. Cut a 6-inch section of softwood from your tree, wrap it in a wet paper towel until you are ready to root it. Remove all but the top two leaves and then dip the end into the rooting hormone and then place the stem into the rooting medium.

Rooting medium is easy to make. Add one part perlite, one part peat moss, and one part sand. This is a well-draining mix but also will retain enough moisture to help root your cutting.

Over the next few weeks, keep the soil moist as your cutting roots. Once a good amount of roots grow, transfer your tree into a bigger pot. 

Propagating can be a fun project to do!

How Fast Do Birch Trees Grow?

Birch trees typically grow fairly fast, which can be good or bad depending on your goals. These trees can grow up to 36 inches a year, depending on species.  

Varieties such as dwarves typically grow slower than the larger varieties. These dwarf varieties make decent landscape trees. People looking for smaller trees often go for varieties like the dwarf river birch because they stay small and require less maintenance.

If you want a quick tree to grow for your landscape, this tree is for you! However, this tree may not be appropriate for those not wanting a large tree that grows as much as the birch every year. You may need to prune often to maintain an appropriate size. 

That’s All For Now!

Birch trees are unique and beautiful trees. They make fantastic landscape trees due to this uniqueness. Known for their striking coloration is the main feature of these trees. 

These trees are easy to maintain, they enjoy most soil types, thrive in excessive water, and thrive in the cold. They do not have many pests as well. 

Birch trees grow well in full sun and do not tolerate shade very well. They are fast-growing, easily adapting trees, and can grow up to 36 inches a year. They have thick bark, small compact leaves, and a love of the cold. 

The bark on these trees has so many uses! It makes syrup for many culinary uses, including birch beer. Birch bark can also become a brown dye, and some claim it has medicinal qualities.

No matter what reason you prefer these gorgeous trees, they are all fantastic! I hope you learned a bit more about how to care for your birch trees. Happy planting!

References 

Birch Trees Have Problems…Lack of Water and Borers. (n.d.). ANR Blogs. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=16261

Feb 15, F. | H. 1005 | U., & Print, 2021 |. (n.d.). River Birch. Home & Garden Information Center | Clemson University, South Carolina. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/river-birch/

Penn State Extension. (2019, September 22). Planting in Sun or Shade. Penn State Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/planting-in-sun-or-shade