Betulaceae

Birch Familiy (Betulaceae)

Alnus firma
Carpinus caroliniana
Betula pendula
Betula lenta
Betula caerulea
Betula ermanii
Alnus glutinosa
Carpinus betulus
Alnus incana
Alnus cordata
Betula maximowicziana
Betula maximowicziana
Betula papyrifera
Alnus rubra
Alnus spaethii
Corylus colurna
Betula alleghaniensis
white birch (Betula pendula) tree in winter
Betula pendula

The European white birch is widespread in Europe and beyond. It is an excellent pioneer plant as it provides very little demands on the soil. Because the birch sprouts early, it is used in many countries for spring rituals.

black birch (Betula lenta) tree in winter
Betula lenta

The Black birch is native to eastern North America. The conspicuous fall foliage makes it a popular garden tree. Young twigs taste sweet.

gold birch (Betula ermanii) crown in summer
Betula ermanii

The Gold birch comes from Asia and is very frost-hardy. It is also called Kamchatka birch. Their main occurrence is north-east of the Ural Mountains up into China.

european alder (Alnus glutinosa) tree in Winter
Alnus glutinosa

The European alder (Alnus glutinosa) is also known as red alder in Europe, but it is not to be confused with the Red alder (Alnus rubra), which is widespread in North America, where it is also called Oregon alder.

european hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) tree
Carpinus betulus

The Hornbeam is widespread in Europe and western Asia. At altitudes above 600 meters, the hornbeam is not found.

monarch birch (Betula maximowicziana) tree in winter
Betula maximowicziana

The monarch birch is native to Japan and grows very quickly as all birches.

paper birch (Betula papyrifera) tree in winter
Betula papyrifera

The Paper birch is native to North America. The bark of the paper birch was formerly used as paper. The bark is water impermeable and was also used in canoe construction.

red alder (Alnus rubra) crown in winter
Alnus rubra

This alder is widespread and based in Alaska, North America and Western Canada.

spaehts alder (Alnus spaethii) tree in summer
Alnus spaethii

The Spaeth's alder is a hybrid of Japanese alder (Alnus japonica) and Caucasian alder (Alnus subcordata). The alder is named after the botanist Franz Späth (25.2.1839-02.021913) named a nursery owner and botanist from Berlin.

yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) crown in winter
Betula alleghaniensis

The yellowish bark of birch gives it its name. It was first discovered at Allegehny River in the U.S. hence its botanical name. The gold birch since 1993 national tree of Québec (Canada).