Birch Vs. Cherry

Bark

• Most birches are distinguished from other trees due to their papery bark adorned with horizontal lenticels. In many species, you can easily peel away strips of bark. The bark varies from reddish-brown, such as in river birch (Betula nigra), which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9, to white, such as in paper birch (Betula papyrifera), which grows in USDA zones 2 through 7. Most cherry trees also have conspicuous horizontal lenticels in the bark, although the colors of cherry tree bark range from grayish- to reddish-brown. In some species, notably black cherry (Prunus serotina), which grows in USDA zones 3 through 10, the bark is dark and has a scale-like appearance.

Flowers and Fruit

• The flowers of both birch and cherry are ornamental and add interest, although they're very different from each other. Cherry trees are characterized by clusters of five-petaled, white or pink flowers that emerge in spring. Some cultivars have double-bloomed flowers with more than five petals. The fruit of cherries is bright to dark red to nearly black and round, although some species produce larger fruits than others do. Birch trees, on the other hand, produce 1-inch-long, conical catkins that hang from the branches.

Size

• Birch trees typically range in height from 40 to 70 feet with a spread of 35 to 60 feet. It's common for various birch species to be planted in small clumps, typically three trees per clump. Some nursery stock is pre-planted in small groups. Cherries, on the other hand, vary in height depending on species and cultivar, including the 12-foot-tall Snow Fountains weeping cherry (Prunus "Snofozam"), which grows in USDA zones 5 through 8, to the black cherry which may reach 80 feet tall.

Comparison

• Both trees commonly decorate landscapes as ornamental trees; various species of each can provide shade. The bark of birch trees is often touted for its winter interest, particularly the cinnamon-colored bark of those like river birch. Cherries, on the other hand, are known for their spring blossoms; many communities have cherry tree festivals that celebrate the profuse blooms in early spring. In short, there is a variety of each tree suitable to nearly any given landscape use; it comes down to your preference for flowers or other decorative features.