Paper birch (also called white birch) is an iconic tree of the north and probably our most easily recognized tree because of its distinctive white bark. The scientific name Betula papyrifera speaks to ...

Mary Jo DiLonardo has worked in print, online, and broadcast journalism for 25 years and covers nature, health, science, and animals. Young trees sometimes have smooth bark that's unbroken by ridges.

Just like every individual is unique, so are trees. No two trees grow at the same rate, have the same leaf pattern, or have identical bark. However, each tree species has specific characteristics that ...

Editor's note: Once a month, the OSU Extension master gardener's office of Franklin County profiles a plant that occurs naturally in central Ohio. As the growing season fades, we bid adieu to many of ...