Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: Birch trees anyone?, 1 by StarhillForest

StarhillForest wrote:
IMHO the best peelers probably are Betula nigra, B. alleghaniensis, and B. davurica. Those rank in descending order regarding resistance to bronze borer. The peeling bark is not a litter issue because it loosens but hangs on, eventually falling in very small, paper-thin pieces.

If you have white-barked birches there that don't exhibit much peeling, they probably are either B. populifolia (somewhat borer resistant) or B. pendula (borer candy). There are others, but not commonly seen in Midwest landscapes.

Have you considered aspens?

Guy S.