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Birch Tree in Autumn

Tree of Reflection: Birch Family (Betulaceae)

Remarkable for its lightness, grace, and elegance, Coleridge named the Birch tree 'Lady of the Woods'. (Grieve) The Birches are cold-climate plants, among the first to populate soils uncovered by glacial retreat. Birches are hearty (and elegant) pioneers of new territory, preparing the way for longer-lived, hardwood species to create deep forests. The young branches are of a rich red brown or orange brown, and the trunks usually white, especially in the second species of B. alba, B. verrucosa. The Silver birch (B. verrucosa), is highly regarded in Russia and Siberia as an important medicinal for treating arthritis. (Brown, Herb Society of America)

Healing Association
The White Birch's trunk and silvery green leaves endow the tree with a surprising ability to move light in many ways. This tree can also be thought of as an ecological beacon, reflecting the longer-lived hardwood forests that will follow. The Trees of Reflection remind us that quiet, gentle and supporting gestures, too, have a powerful role in the individual and collective healing process.

Planting Requirements
Birches prefer moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, in sun or shade. B. pendula prefers sandy soils below pH 6.5, and dislikes shallow alkaline conditions. It is nevertheless extremely hardy and can tolerate dry conditions. Birches are fibrous-rooted (do not have a tap-root), so transplant fairly easily. (Cullina)

Uses in the Landscape

Structure
  • Visual and auditory screen
  • Provides filtered shade
  • As an allee, or simply along a path
  • As a grove
Sensorial
  • The European white birch (B. alba) has a striking white trunk. Consider contrasting this species in front of large evergreens, or use to bring light into dark spaces
  • River birch (B. nigra) and (B. papyifera) have highly textured peeling bark
  • Outstanding fall color (see photo at right)
  • Beautiful dappled light
  • Striking when illuminated from the below at night
  • Sounds from leaves rustling in wind and rain
  • Example from literature:
"The birch path is one of the prettiest places in the world." It was. Other people besides Anne thought so when they stumbled on it. It was a little narrow, twisting path, winding down over a long hill straight through Mr. Bell's woods, where light came down sifted through so many emerald screens that it was as flawless as the heart of a diamond. It was fringed in all its length with slim young birches, white-stemmed, and starflowers and wild lilies-of -the-valley and scarlet tufts of pigeon berries grew thickly along it; and always there was a delightful spiciness in the air and music of bird calls and the murmur and laugh of wood winds in the trees overhead."
Anne of Green Gables
L.M. Montgomery
(Quoted in Vitale)
Food and Habitat for Wildlife
  • Important to a host of insects including moths and butterflies
  • Seeds provide food for over-wintering birds: chickadees, juncos
  • Twigs provide good nesting sites and materials
  • Shrubby species are important food for rabbits, deer and elk
The Fourth Dimension: Time, growth, decay, renewal
  • Birches are considered a short-lived species with a life-span of up to 75 years.

Healing Ethnobotanical Uses
The information provided below is intended for educational purposes only. Please contact your local licensed herbalists for safe and proper medicinal uses of this plant.

Native American Medicine
Native Americans treated fevers, stomach upset, rheumatism, and other ailments with a tea made from the leaves and bark of sweet birch (B. lenta), and boiled the bark to make poultices for minor wounds. An oil made by distilling the bark of the sweet birch was traditionally used for bladder infections, rheumatism, gout and nerve pain. (Peirce, The American Pharmaceutical Association, 1999)

European Medicine
Leaves of the European white and silver birches (B.pendula, B. verrucosa) have long been used to remedy skin rashes, hair loss, rheumatic complaints, and conditions requiring that blood be "purified". Birch tar oil is used to treat chronic skin diseases. (Peirce)

Scientific Constituents and Actions
Source: Bastyr College of Natural Medicine On-Line Database

  • Constituents: Flavonoids, mainly hyperoside, with luteolin and quercetin glycosides.
  • Actions: Diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, tonic.
  • Indications: Birch leaves act as an effective remedy for cystitis and other infections of the urinary system as well as removing excess water from the body. Perhaps because of this cleansing diuretic activity, the plant has been used for gout, rheumatism and mild arthritic pain. The bark will ease muscle pain if it is applied externally, putting the fresh, wet internal side of the bark against the skin.
Current research exploring "Betulin" and "Betulinc Acid"
Source: Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases of United States Department of Agriculture. Betulin and Betulinic acid have shown activity that inhibits skin cancer.
  • White Birch Bark (Betulin)
    Anticarcinomic; Antifeedant; Antiflu; Antiinflammatory; Antitumor; Antiviral; Aphidifuge; Cytotoxic; Hypolipemic; Prostaglandin-Synthesis-Inhibitor
  • Sweet Birch Bark -(Betulin and Betulinic Acid)
    Anticarcinomic ; AntiHIV; Antiinflammatory; Antimalarial; Antimelanomic ; Antiplasmodial; Antitumor; Antiviral; Cytotoxic; Prostaglandin-Synthesis-Inhibitor

Recommended Species of the Birch Family

Native Recommended Species
Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
Black Birch, Sweet Birch (B. lenta)
River Birch (B. nigra)
Paper Birch, Canoe Birch, White Birch (B. papyrifera)
Bog Birch (B. pumila)

Naturalized Recommended Species of the Birch Family
European White birch (Betula alba)

Native Birch Plant Community: Floodplain Forest, Red Maple-Hardwood Swamps, Successional Mixed Hardwoods
Source: NRG

Floodplain Forest
Native Recommended Species
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
River Birch (Betula nigra)
Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
Green Ash (Fraxinus pensylvanica)
Sweet Gum (Liquidamber styraciflua)
Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)
American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
Cotttonwood (Populus deltoides)
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
Black Willow (Salix nigra)
American Linden (Tilia americana)

Red Maple-Hardwood Swamp
Native Recommended Species
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Sweet Gum (Liquidamber styraciflua)
Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)
American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Successional Mixed Hardwoods
Native Recommended Species
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
Black Birch (Betula lenta)
Gray Birch (Betula populifolia)
Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)
Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
Green Ash (Fraxinus pensylvanica)
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)
Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
Common Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)