In southeastern Labrador, paper birch seedling establishment begins promptly after fire and is restricted to the first 15 postfire years. At 40 to 50 years after fire conifer seedlings appear in the paper birch understory. In boreal mixed woods, paper birch begin dying by 75 years after fire. At this time jack pine, black spruce, and white spruce begin to dominate or codominate. In contrast to other boreal regions, paper birch persists in forests for more than 200 years in eastern Quebec.
Female catkins appear in the spring before the leaves are fully expanded.