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European white birch and Paper birch: growing conditions and wildlife benefits.

COMMON CHOICE European white birch Betula pendula	NATIVE ALTERNATIVE Paper birch Betula papyrifera
	GO NATIVE
Native range
Europe and Asia	Subarctic America to Canada, N. U.S.A. to Virginia.See state guides
Sunlight
Full sun to part shade	Full sun
Soil moisture
Moist, well-drained soil; tolerates occasional dryness	Average moisture
Mature height
30–50 ft	50–70 ft
Mature spread
10–30 ft	25–45 ft
USDA hardiness zones
2–7	2–7
Season of interest
Spring catkins & ornamental bark	Spring
Garden & wildlife value
Foliage can support eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillars.	Native birch leaves feed moth and butterfly caterpillars while the canopy adds light shade.
Growing notes
A deciduous tree; heat and drought stress can increase pest problems.	A large tree for cool climates and moist, drained soil; heat and drought shorten its life.
Growing information	Growing information Native range: Kew

Sizes describe the species; individual cultivars can differ.