Wildlife
- Feeds birds
Seeds and catkins feed songbirds and grouse through winter, and the twigs and buds are browsed by deer and moose.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native tree
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 2–7
- Grows 40–70 ft
$11.95Was $14.95Save 20%
3.8 out of 5 · 6 reviews
Plant a clump or row: 3 for $18.95
The 3-Pack works out to $6.32 a plant, each about 18–24 in.
The quick answer
Paper birch is a native tree for USDA zones 2-7 that grows 40-70 feet tall and 25-40 feet wide. It wants full sun, cool roots and moist, acidic, well-drained soil, and does best in northern climates. Buy it for bright white peeling bark and clear yellow fall color.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
Paper Birch plant profile
Mature size40–70 ft tall · 25–40 ft wide
Typical (40 ft)Up to 70 ft
Upright, oval to irregular crown, single or multi-stemmed, with white peeling bark.
USDA hardiness zones2–7
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Needs full sun.
SoilpH 5.0–6.5
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers cool, moist, well-drained acidic soil and tolerates sandy or rocky ground. Mulch to keep roots cool.
Native to the USBright yellow fall color
Flowers & fruit
Not grown for flowers; drooping catkins appear in spring and release small winged seeds in late summer.
Leaves & fall color
Bright yellow in fall. Oval to triangular, toothed leaves that turn bright yellow in fall.
Pests & disease
Bronze birch borer is the main threat, usually after drought stress. Leaf miners and cankers can also occur.
Pruning
Prune only when needed, during the dormant season in late fall or early winter. Avoid spring pruning because birches bleed heavily.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your Paper Birch
SPRINGDrooping catkins as leaves emerge; do not prune now because birches bleed heavily.
SUMMERMulch and water in dry spells; drought stress invites bronze birch borer.
LATE SUMMERSmall winged seeds drop from the catkins.
FALLClear yellow leaves, then bright white peeling bark all winter.
Questions people ask about Paper Birch
When should I prune a paper birch?
Prune during the dormant season in late fall or early winter, and avoid spring. Birches bleed heavily when cut while sap is running.
How do I protect paper birch from bronze birch borer?
Keep the tree unstressed with mulch over the roots and deep watering during dry spells. Drought stress followed by borer attack is the most common cause of decline.
Does paper birch grow well in warm climates?
It performs best in northern climates and can be stressed by hot summers at the southern edge of its range in zones 6-7.
When does paper birch get white bark?
Young trees start with brownish bark that turns white as the trunk thickens, usually after a few years.
What does the paper birch look like when it arrives?
It ships as a dormant, leafless bare-root tree about 2-3 feet tall. Plant it soon after arrival and keep the roots moist.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
Customer Reviews
Based on 6 reviews
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S
I potted them when I got them, as the spot was not prepped. A few stalks are thriving. A few were attacked by rabbits. (Strange) Most of them, the leaves wilted and there is no sign of growth. They're all in the same sun condition and the same soil mix. Scratch tests seem to show live stems, but nothing else verifies this. I'm hoping they come back.
S
Our tree arrived in great shape, it looked healthy and as soon as it was out of the packaging and planted 2 to 3 days later it was sprouting leaves. So excited to watch it grow! Thanks!
E
I ordered five packs of three trees each for a total of 15 trees. 14 of the 15 survived shipping. Not bad. The 14 that lived a growing very healthily.
K
The plants were fine, but the company was confusing as apparently it does business under several different names and I ended up with three orders and I’m not really sure how many I paid for
M
Cute bebe trees! Just blossomed here in Illinois. Healthy and going well for the price.
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: Morton Arboretum, https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/treeinfo/paper-birch.