Top 10 Fascinating Trees with White Bark You Should Know About

Tree varieties with white bark are not common – and this makes them very special, with unique decorative value! Pale trunk and branches, rough or smooth or even exfoliating, in shades of cream or ivory stand out against the green of other plants, of leaves, and even of colorful flowers! And in winter, they still provide a point of interest, even without foliage…

Only a few species have this strange, sometimes ghostly appearance: we immediately think of birch trees, but also some aspens, poplars, sycamores and some eucalypti do! Each is different, but they all have that eye catching color that stops the view, that makes you wonder why the bark is not brown or gray… And for a garden, this is a very special touch indeed!

Welcome to the palest of all tree groups: trees with bark so light, that it has no color at all – or almost… But you will see that each has its own quality to offer to landscape your garden.

We will soon see their pale beauty, just after we find out why these varieties are not brown like most other trees, but white!

Why Do Some Trees Have White Bark?

You may wonder what causes trees to have white bark, and not brown like in most species. The question is still being discussed, but most botanists agree that it’s an adaptation to protect the tissue just under the bark itself, the cambium from sudden temperature changes.

In fact, tree species with light or white bark often come from regions where temperatures drop and rise fast, like mountain areas and cold countries, for example Canada, but also from dry and arid areas.

A pale, even off-white surface reflects the sunlight much better than a dark one. So, it keeps the temperature more stable inside the trunk. And the cadmium is essential for the life of a tree, because it holds the phloem and xylem within it. These are the “pipes” where the sap flows. In particular, the phloem transports sucrose and amino acids from the leaves to the rest of the plant, while the xylem transports water and minerals from the roots to the leaves.

This white bark development is particularly useful to deciduous trees, because they do not have their own shade during the cold months, unlike conifers, and so they are more susceptible to sudden temperature increases.

Ok, now we know why trees have white barks, with very few pigments. Shall we now look at which varieties you can grow in your garden?

1. American White Birch (Betula papyrifera)

Also called paper birch, American white birch is the first tree variety that springs to mind when we think, “White bark”! Its peeling bark, in fact, that comes off in horizontal strips is very pale, light, and, well, white indeed! When it comes off, it is like paper, and it reveals the darker surface underneath in shades of pink and salmon.

It has impressive medicinal properties, used by natives to treat wounds, for example. The upright trunks straight and slim, with elegant branches and the deltoid leaves form an elegant crown of bright green with glittering sunlight reflexes and effects. They will turn golden and red in fall before dropping to the ground.

American white firm is an elegant, bright and airy deciduous tree with white bark, and a favorite in temperate gardens all over the world. It looks lovely on a well kept lawn, where the dappled shade and unusual bark color give you a fresh and sparkling effect.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 7.
• Light exposure: full Sun or partial shade.
• Size: 50 to 72 feet tall (15 to 21 meters) and 25 to 50 feet in spread (7.5 to 15 meters).
• Soil and water requirements: average fertile, well drained, medium humid loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

2. American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

American sycamore, a close relative of plane trees, has decorative peeling bark, pale and warm brown, and when it comes off it reveals a cream or almost white surface. With a large, straight and upright trunk, this imposing species also has a dense globular crown with palmate foliage, mid to dark green for most of the year, but they will blush into yellow, russet and pink when the colder days come. Each leaf can reach 10 inches across (25 cm) and it will shelter spherical balls covered in pointed spikes that will stay on into the winter season!

Strong and healthy, American sycamore is one of the best air purifiers ever, which makes it a favorite on roads and perfect for urban gardens. As a specimen tree or in groups, it will provide shelter from the Sun in the warm season and beauty all year round.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 4 to 9.
• Light exposure: full Sun.
• Size: 70 to 100 feet tall and in spread (21 to 30 meters).
• Soil and water requirements: deep, fertile, humus rich and well drained but consistently humid loam, clay or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

3. Lemon Scented Gum (Corymbia citrodora)

For warmer regions, lemon scented gum, also known as lemon scented eucalyptus will give you very smooth white bark, like a marble statue! The upright, large and straight trunk will branch off into equally pale “arms” that turn to the sky as if praying, but it has another very special feature.

The hard, leathery, long and pointed leaves have a strong citrus smell, very much like lemon – hence the name. When they fall to the ground, they can be used for lovely potpourris, just snap them to get the uplifting fragrance and inhale! With an open crown, it will provide dappled shade and a lovely, fine game of light and darkness to the ground.

Ideal as a specimen tree, lemon scented gum will provide a white, sculptural focal point in an open garden, but it will thrive and make its presence seen even small wooded areas or groups of trees.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 8 to 11.
• Light exposure: full Sun.
• Size: 40 to 100 feet tall (12 to 30 meters) and 15 to 50 feet in spread (4.5 to 15 meters).
• Soil and water requirements: deep, well drained, medium humid to dry loam or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to neutral. It is drought tolerant.

4. ‘White Ghost’ Himalayan Birch (Betula utilis var. jacquemonti ‘White Ghost’)

‘White Ghost’ is a cultivar of Himalayan birch with particularly pale bark, as the name suggests. It is also quite smooth, though you will see delicate horizontal ridges that go round the trunk like ivory rings. Its ethereal presence grows from the ground with a very straight and upright habit, culminating in a fresh looking crown of very glossy, green leaves.

These will turn yellow in fall before falling. But in spring, yellowish brown flowers will open on the elegant branches of thus deciduous and low maintenance variety, winner of the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Good as a specimen or also for foundation planting, ‘White Ghost’ Himalayan birch is one of the most candid looking white bark trees you can grow even in a modest garden, because it is not a large variety.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 7.
• Light exposure: full Sun or partial shade.
• Size: 30 to 50 feet tall (9.0 to 15 meters) and 30 to 33 feet in spread (9.0 to 10 meters).
• Soil and water requirements: average fertile, well drained, medium humid to wet loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

5. Candlebark Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus rubida)

Candlebark eucalyptus comes from Australia and Tasmania to your garden with its bright look and ivory bark. Very smooth, and totally white, it covers the trunk and branches like the skin of a movie star from the 50s. Clouds of airy, small and elegant evergreen leaves hang from above, giving you light shade, but allowing sunlight to come through and hit the ground.

Round and glaucous, the foliage is bluish green in color, while clusters of snow colored flowers will also dangle in the crown of this tree during the summer months. Very adaptable to cold and wet or dry soils, this medium to fast grower is a great asset with a pale presence.

Ideal for xeric gardens, it makes a perfect choice for wind screens, but it is also useful for an unusual, ghostly but bright effect in small group, it as a specimen. It is also one of the few evergreens with white bark, which is an added bonus.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 7 to 10.
• Light exposure: full Sun.
• Size: 30 to 100 feet tall (9.0 to 30 meters) and 30 to 50 feet in spread (9.0 to 15 meters).
• Soil and water requirements: deep, average or moderately fertile, well drained and dry to moist loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline. It is drought tolerant.

6. White Poplar (Populus alba)

Native of Europe and central Asia, white poplar has slender, long, straight trunks covered in white bark, with horizontal thin cuts that show the grayish tissue underneath. Fast growing, it has very airy, open crowns that can be conical, pyramidal or round, and the foliage too play with bright and light filled shades. The large leaves reach 5 inches long, they have 3 or 5 lobes, and they have a lustrous green upper page but a fuzzy silver under page. The effect when they shake in the wind is glittering and sparkling.

You can grow white poplar to flank paths or roads, it is often seen on the sides of ditches and it will give you a very vertical pale presence, with dappled shade on the floor. However, keep it away from your home as its roots are widespread and it can ruin your foundations, and avoid windy places, because this deciduous tree falls to the ground quite easily.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 4 to 9.
• Light exposure: full Sun.
• Size: 50 to 80 feet tall and in spread (15 to 24 meters).
• Soil and water requirements: deep, average fertile, well drained and consistently humid loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

7. Japanese White Birch (Betula platyphilla)

The trunk of Japanese white birch is coated in a white, smooth bark with cuts that reveal a pale brown surface underneath. They grow thin and straight and they give way to slender spreading branches which, in turn end in gently arching or pendant smaller branchlets. On these, you will find the decorative foliage of lime green, ovate and serrated leaves, each reaching about 3 inches long (7.5 cm).

Forming a sculptural pyramidal crown, these will turn golden yellow in fall. It will remain like a slender ghost throughout the winter season, only to come back in spring with brown yellowish male catkins and green female flowers. Then, cone shaped capsules will open to let the winged seeds scatter in your garden like butterflies.

Grow Japanese white birch in any informal garden as a specimen, in groups, wooded area and also as foundation planting and you will not regret it.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 4 to 7.
• Light exposure: full Sun or partial shade.
• Size: 30 to 40 feet tall (9.0 to 12 meters) and 15 to 25 feet in spread (4.5 to 7.5 meters).
• Soil and water requirements: fairly deep, average fertile, well drained medium humid to wet loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

8. Mountain Gum (Eucalyptus darlympleana)

A stately, majestic tree from Australia with impressive cram white, smooth bark is mountain gum, a eucalyptus variety. The trunk is large and broad, and it spreads into strong looking branches, all in the same pale color. The leaves are long and pointed, bluish green and pendant, though they have a copper tint when they first appear.

They are not fragrant, but they are very elegant, creating an open crown that is both airy and finely textured. The flowers will appear in spring, white as well, and in clusters among the leafy display; and they will also last for a long time indeed!

For a very muscular but pale tree, mountain gum, with its white bark and healthy, self assured appearance, is a great choice as a specimen plant or woods, and it has won the famous Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 8 to 10.
• Light exposure: full Sun.
• Size: 50 to 70 feet tall (15 to 21 meters) and 15 to 25 feet in spread (4.5 to 7.5 meters).
• Soil and water requirements: deep, average to moderately fertile, well drained, dry to medium humid loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline. Very drought tolerant once established.

9. European Aspen (Populus tremula)

European aspen is a very unusual tree because it is a bit of a transformer. In fact, when it is young, it has a smooth, papery white bark. But as its tarts growing, it thickens, and gaps appear within it, showing some pale gray, till it finally cracks, but, unfortunately, as this happens, the color will darken as well.

Upright and columnar, this deciduous variety has very fine foliage in an open crown, with leaves that start off bronze in spring, then they turn bright green, and finally yellow and orange for a final colorful display in fall. Long, drooping yellow green catkins will welcome spring back like delicate feathers hanging from the still naked branches.

Very popular in farms and in the countryside thought Europe, this aspen tree can take part in groups adding a vertical accent, and a colorful show, but keep it away from your home as its root system can cause problems to foundations.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 8.
• Light exposure: full Sun.
• Size: 30 to 70 feet tall (9.0 to 21 meters) and 10 to 30 feet in spread (3.0 to 9.0 meters).
• Soil and water requirements: deep, fertile and humus rich, well drained consistently humid loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

10. Erman’s Birch (Betula ermanii)

Native of northeast Asia, Erman’s birch is the deciduous tree you want if you like a trunk with very delicate, unusual shades. The paper like bark is white, but it is so thin that you can see the copper pink tonalities that are underneath it. And when it peels, with horizontal strips, this color becomes very evident indeed.

With sometimes twisting, dramatic branches, the broadly conical crown holds bright green, large and toothed foliage with an open habit. The leaves then turn yellow and orange in fall, before falling. Its bare shape will cast a ghostly silhouette during the cold months, and then in spring… Enjoy the lovely, small, yellow brown catkins!

Erman’s birch adds its delicate palette to informal gardens with great grace, and you can grow it in small groups, in foundation planting or even as a specimen.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 8.
• Light exposure: full Sun or partial shade.
• Size: 50 to 70 feet tall (15 to 21 meters) and 20 to 30 feet in spread (6.0 to 9.0 meters).
• Soil and water requirements: average fertile, well drained, medium humid to wet loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

White Barks and Many Other Qualities with Our Trees

All trees you have seen, birches, aspens, eucalypti etc., have one thing in common: bark in shades of white. But… to appreciate their full decorative value, you need to see their foliage, often colorful, shape and personality. And when you do, you will see that this very rare quality is not the only thing they can offer to your garden – even if it’s the most important and visually striking.