• Birch treesbirch trees image by Calin Tatu from Fotolia.com
  
  The birch tree is a small sized shrub or tree which belongs to the Betulaceae family. The tree grows abundantly in temperate Nordic climates and on hills and mountainsides. The branches of the tree are long and hang downwards and the foliage is triangular shaped. The leaf color is lighter on the outer edges and the bark can range from white, tan, cinnamon and yellow, to dark brown and almost black. The birch tree family has 40 species of shrubs and trees which are widely planted as ornamental trees.
  
  

River Birch

• River birch (Betula nigra) is a medium sized deciduous tree which reaches a mature height of 70 to 80 feet. The large and arching branches start 15 to 20 feet from the ground and form a spreading, irregular crown. The roots of the river birch are widespread and shallow. The 1-to-2-inch rhombic leaves are sharply serrated on the edges, bright green, and paler on the underside. Young river birch trees have a reddish-brown bark which first changes to a salmon pink or white and eventually to a coarsely scaled gray brown. River birch is planted as an ornamental for its foliage and distinctive bark.
  
  

American Hornbeam

• American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is also known as blue beech, ironwood and musclewood. It is a small shrub or tree of the birch family that rarely exceeds 25 to 35 feet in height. The trunk is short and twisted and the lateral roots are shallow and spreading. The branches start to grow very close to the ground. American hornbeam is a deciduous tree with alternate, oval-shaped leaves which are a dull blue-green on the top and a pale yellow-green below. The bark of the American hornbeam is a smooth, blue-gray with tiny knobby bumps. This tree likes moist soil and grows along streams and in swamps in Southeastern Canada and the eastern and southeastern regions of the United States.
  
  

Hophornbeam

• Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) is a small tree of the birch family with a maximum height of 20 to 30 feet. The crown is vase-like and open and the root system is moderately deep. The tree is deciduous with long, oval, tapered leaves with sharp, serrated margins. The leaves are a dull yellow-green on the top and paler on the underside. The younger stems of the tree have a reddish-brown, cherry-like bark which gradually turns gray-brown as the tree matures. Mature bark develops plate-like scales which give the trees a shredded appearance. The hophornbeam is a common tree found on slopes and ridges in southeastern Canada and the eastern and southeastern United States.