One of the biggest problems with trees is that they are highly seasonal in terms of their aesthetics. Most trees tend to shed their foliage during the fall season which leaves an ugly sight during that time of the year. But trees that have white bark, tend to look beautiful for the entire year, even after they shed their foliage. Let’s take a look at some of the best options for your landscaping needs.
Some of the best options for trees with a white bark include Japanese White Birch, Quaking Aspen, American Sycamore, Himalayan Birch, Paper Birch, Ghost Gum, White Poplar, Weeping Cherry Tree, Eucalyptus Pauciflora and Acer Tegmentosum.
10 Best Trees with a White Bark
Japanese White birch is one of the best options for adding a striking look to your property. They are usually grown in medium to moist well-drained soil. This species is known for its beautiful yellow foliage during the spring and vivid fall colors which leads to a snowy white look during the winters.
They are medium to large trees with an average height of 15-25ft and don’t need a lot of attention for healthy growth as well. Full sun or partial shade is the preferred condition and the best season for any pruning is considered to be winter. They are also categorized as a USDA 2-6 species.
Quaking Aspens are also known as American Aspen, Trembling Aspen, Trembling Poplar or Golden Aspen. They are usually found in cooler areas of North America which do not receive a harsher summer, usually in the USDA 2-8 zones. They have stunning golden and yellow foliage during the fall season followed by striking white colors during winter.
They are categorized as medium to large trees with an average height of 20-50ft and a spread of up to 30ft. This species prefers moist and well-drained soil with a sunny climate. One thing to note is that this species is better suited for larger areas as they can have an aggressive root system and a large spread which can cause damage to nearby properties.
American Sycamore is the biggest deciduous trees in Eastern USA, that is why it is recommended to only opt for them if you have a large area. They are characterized by a flaky bark with creamy white streaks amid the brown colors which add a nice wow factor to the area.
They can grow up to 75-100 ft and usually come under USDA 4-9 zones. This species is also quite tolerant of pollution and drought.
Himalayan Birch is one of the best options for smaller properties and stylish urban gardens. Because of their pale, ghostly slim trunk, Himalayan Birch adds a very modern touch to winter gardens in particular. On top of this, the foliage during the spring and summer season provides a nice light dappled shade to the area.
This species also turns out to be quite low maintenance. But one thing to note here is that not all Himalayan Birch varieties have white bark, some make sure to double-check the specific Latin name before buying something. Some of the common whitebark varieties include Doorenbos, Jermyns, Grayswood, Silver Shadow.
Paper Birch are medium-sized trees that are usually used as screening trees in properties. They are found in USDA 2-7 zones and can grow up to 70ft tall. The major use for this species other than its aesthetic quality is privacy. They are a deciduous variety and usually become fully white at around 5 years of age.
They can easily grow in full sun and partial shade and in most varieties of soil other than chalk as long as the soil is well-drained and close to groundwater.
This variety is also known as the White Tigress and Valley Phantom due to the colored streaks on its bark which adds a very distinct and stark look to any property. They also have the added feature of beautiful golden yellow foliage in the fall. The color structure of the bark is pale green and creamy white which is quite unique when compared to the rest of the list.
They can be found in USDA zones up to 4 and can grow up to 24 ft high making them a small to medium-sized species. This species belongs to a group called the snake bark maples due to its reptilian look.
This species has an extremely distinct look due to its silvery leaves on top of the creamy-colored textured bark. They also produce white flowers in the summer. This species is usually found in USDA 7-10 zones and in most soil types as long as the surrounding region is weed-free and well-watered, especially during the first couple of seasons.
They can grow up to 25 ft tall which makes them a perfect choice even for smaller areas. After the first couple of seasons, this variety is low maintenance.
The other Eucalyptus varieties which you can go for include Spinning Gum (Eucalyptus Perriniana), Brittle Gum (Eucalyptus Mannifera), and White Gum (Eucalyptus Alba).
Ghost gum is one of the best choices for warmer climates, especially in USDA zones 9 to 10. They also require very less maintenance and is quite resistant to droughts, pests, and diseases. The name of this species is derived from the striking white trunk and which gives a ‘ghost-like look during the nighttime.
This is also an evergreen variety that guarantees you foliage throughout the year. if you live in areas that receive frost in the winter, then its leaves will turn purple which can change the entire look of your property.
White Poplar is native to Europe and Central Asia but now they are found almost everywhere. Particularly in USDA zones 3 to 8. Other than having a beautiful white bark, it also has silvery green foliage which can reach up to a height of 50-75 ft. This makes it suitable for larger areas and properties.
This species needs at least 6 hours of sunlight a day on average and well-drained soil but at the same time, it can also sustain some flooding situations and high rainfall. Another advantage of this species is the fact they attract birds during the winter season. But keep in mind that it can also send new shoots and suckers from the ground in the surrounding area so you will have to be careful and remove these from time to time.
Weeping Cherries provide a spectacular show almost throughout the year. Starting from spring with its pink blossoms which turn into dark green foliage during the summer which lasts throughout the winter season, coupled with its white bark which provides a stark contrast to the surrounding colors.
You don’t even need to prune the tree a lot, as the branches will automatically droop, growing up to 25 feet high. They also attract birds during the winter because of their berries.
Conclusion
Trees with white bark have a very distinct and unique look which are often used as excellent landscaping trees, especially during the winter season. Some of the best options include Weeping Cherry, White Poplar, Ghost Gum, Paper Birch, Himalayan Birch, and many more.
Recommended reading:
10 Trees with Peeling Barks for Landscaping
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I am the guy behind Theyardable.com. I grew up on a homestead and I am here to share the knowledge I have and things I learn while living in the countryside.
