Unique Features: This tree is also known as the Canoe birch.  It does best in cooler parts of the country and in our area will do best with a northern or eastern exposure.  This siting will give some protection from the intense afternoon sun and also help prolong the winter snow cover.  Birch naturally have a wide spread and shallow root system and are native to areas that have consistent snow cover and cold temperatures during the winter.  We don’t have that so this tree will need winter water whenever there is no snow cover and temperatures are above 40 degrees.   During the summer it requires consistent moisture, a large mulched area around the tree will help achieve this as well as protecting the shallow roots from rapid temperature changes.