Known colloquially in French as the merisier, the yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) is a tree native to northeastern North America. Due to its rapid growth, long life, beauty and wide range of uses, it became Québec’s official tree on November 17, 1993.

The yellow birch can reach a height of 20 to 30 metres and a diameter of 60 centimetres. Its flowers appear in April and May in the form of light green hanging catkins; these are followed by small winged seeds easily dispersed by the wind. The leaves, a soft green in summer, turn bright yellow in the fall before falling to the ground, where they become a brilliant yellow carpet.

Yellow birch trees prefer rich, humid soil and often grow in groups in forests, swamps and wetlands. They are also able to tolerate poor, acid soils and can grow there alone. Their rapid growth and nitrogen-fixing ability (of the soil) makes them useful for reforestation and the regeneration of deteriorated ground.

This tree has many uses. Its bark, which is easily removed in thin layers, has been used for many centuries by Indigenous peoples to make useful objects and canoes. Its dense, heavy wood is easy to stain and polish.

Because of their medicinal properties, its leaves can be used to treat skin problems and joint pain. The oil of yellow birch is also used in aromatherapy. In recent years, following the example of the maple, the tree’s sap has been used to make syrup.

The yellow birch is also appreciated for its beauty and its calming presence. Its silvery or coppery bark and stepped branches make it a popular tree for parks and gardens. It is also a food source for deer and moose, which browse its young shoots and its leaves.

For all of these qualities, the yellow birch deserves its status as Québec’s official tree.

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