A “white tree” can refer to various species exhibiting white characteristics in their bark, flowers, wood, or foliage. This article explores these distinct features, aiding in the identification and appreciation of trees with white elements.
Trees Known for Their White Bark
Many trees are recognized for their striking white bark. The Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera), also known as White Birch or Canoe Birch, is a prime example. Its thin, white bark often peels in papery strips, revealing a reddish-orange inner bark that darkens with age. Paper Birches are often found in cooler climates across North America.
The Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) also has pale bark. Its smooth, light gray to greenish-white bark is often marked with dark scars from self-pruned lower branches. The bark also contains a photosynthetic green layer, allowing the tree to produce sugars even in winter. This species is widespread across North America, thriving in various conditions.
The American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) exhibits distinctive white bark, especially on its upper branches and trunk. The bark exfoliates in irregular patches, revealing lighter, creamy-white inner bark beneath darker, mottled outer layers. This shedding creates a unique pattern of greens, browns, and whites. Sycamores are commonly found in a wide range of growing zones.
Trees Adorned with White Flowers
Some trees create a white display through abundant blossoms during their flowering season. The Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) is a notable example, producing showy white “flowers” in spring, often before its leaves emerge. These white structures are modified leaves called bracts, surrounding small, yellowish-green true flowers. Dogwoods are ornamental trees, often found in landscaping across the eastern and southeastern United States.
Many Magnolia species produce large, fragrant white flowers, often appearing in late winter or early spring before the leaves. Ornamental Cherry trees are celebrated for their prolific white or pink blossoms in spring. These trees are widely planted in gardens and urban landscapes for their temporary floral displays. Pear trees, particularly ornamental varieties, also burst forth with clusters of white flowers in spring, transforming branches into a cloud of white before foliage fully develops.
Trees with Light-Colored Wood
Some trees are considered “white” due to the pale color of their interior wood, visible when cut or processed. Hard Maple (Acer saccharum), also known as Sugar Maple, is a prime example. Its sapwood ranges from nearly white to an off-white cream, sometimes with a reddish or golden hue. Hard Maple wood is valued for its strength and fine texture, making it a choice for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, and musical instruments.
Ash wood, particularly from species like White Ash, typically has a light color, ranging from pale cream to light brown. Ash is known for its flexibility and shock resistance, finding common use in furniture, tool handles, and sports equipment. Basswood (Tilia americana) is another tree with light-colored wood, often pale white to light brown. This soft, lightweight wood is easily worked and frequently used for carving, musical instruments, and veneer.
Trees with Distinctive Whitish Foliage
Certain trees exhibit a whitish or silvery appearance due to their leaves, often from fine hairs on the underside or a reflective surface. The Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) is an example. Its leaves have a dark green upper surface, but their undersides are distinctly white or silvery. When the wind blows, the lighter underside is revealed, creating a shimmering effect.
The White Poplar (Populus alba) features distinctive whitish foliage. Its three-lobed leaves are dark green on top, but their undersides are covered with dense white, woolly hairs, giving them a bright silver-white appearance, especially noticeable when they flutter in the breeze. White Willow (Salix alba) is another tree with silvery-white leaves. Its long, narrow leaves are green on the upper surface, while the underside is covered in fine, silky, silvery hairs. These trees offer unique visual interest in landscapes, especially when their foliage moves with the wind.