They are essentailly northern trees and are short-lived in warmer regions. Betula nigra and lenta are better suited for a warmer climate than most other species. Their foliage is rarely attacked by insects, and turns to a bright or orange-yellow in fall. Their graceful habit, the slender, often pendulous branches, and the picturesque trunks make them conspicuous features of the landscape. Especially remarkable are those with white bark.
Most birches prefer moist, sandy and loamy soil.
Some as Betula pendula and Betula populifolia , grow satisfactorily in dry localities and poor soil. Varieties grow to 80 ft.