Aspen/Birch

[whitebeam]

hi gang,

interested to know of ways to identify differences between aspen and birch in the wintertime. any ideas?

nicky
c/o whitebeam

 

[typha]

I find that old aspen leaves last a long while and can usually be found lying around the ground at the base of the trees in winter.
Perhaps you should learn the characteristics of the two trees in summer such as the differences in the bark and the buds while they are easiest to identify.

 

[Tor helge]

Aspen (populus tremula) have "green bark" with no fraying. Picture below.

While birch (betula alba) have white bark wich can be peeled of in layers.

Hope this helps.

Tor