There are a few trees that are similar to birch trees in appearance and characteristics. These include the paper birch (Betula papyrifera), the gray birch (Betula populifolia), and the yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis). All three of these species are native to North America and have similar growing habits.
The paper birch is the most widely distributed of the three, found throughout Canada and parts of the northern United States. It gets its name from the thin, papery bark that peels off in sheets. The tree can grow up to 80 feet tall, with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet. The leaves are oval-shaped and have sharp teeth along the edges. The fall foliage is a bright yellow color.
The gray birch is smaller than the paper birch, typically reaching a height of 40-60 feet. It has a more slender trunk, with a diameter of only 1-2 feet. The leaves are also oval-shaped but lack the serrated edges. They are dark green in color and turn yellow or brown in autumn. The tree's distinctive feature is its blue-gray bark, which is smooth to touch.
The yellow birch grows to be slightly taller than the gray birch, up to 70 feet tall on average. It shares many similarities with its cousin including oval leaves and smooth bark (although it is darker in color, ranging from golden brown to reddish brown). Like the other two birches, its leaves turn yellow in fall before dropping off for winter dormancy.