Plant

Alaska Paper Birch

Betula neoalaskana

Also known as Alaska Birch, Resin Birch

Alaska paper birch forms a defining canopy component across the vast northern boreal forest, thriving on cold, poorly drained soils underlain by permafrost. Young twigs are densely covered with prominent resinous warts that distinguish the tree from related birches, while mature trunks peel in delicate thin sheets of creamy white to pale reddish bark. In early spring, male catkins shed copious pollen on boreal breezes just before the triangular leaves unfold.

BorealDeciduousCold Hardy

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—observations

—countries

—peak records

Least ConcernConservation status

Key facts

Diet & preyPhotoautotrophic (sunlight, atmospheric carbon dioxide, water, and soil minerals)

Predators

Moose
Snowshoe Hare
Birch Leafminer

ThreatsWildfire regime shifts, climate warming, and birch leafminer infestations

HabitatsBoreal forests, muskeg borders, river valleys, and subalpine slopes

Life span80–150 years

Classification

OrderFagales
FamilyBetulaceae
GenusBetula
SpeciesBetula neoalaskana

Range & activity

Range data is not available yet.

Safe observation

Interaction riskLow

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is low: Safe to observe at a normal distance.

Responsible observation

Bark Identification: Check mature trunks for thin, peeling sheets of white to pale copper bark.
Twig Inspection: Look closely at young shoots for raised, rough resin glands that feel bumpy.
Boreal Etiquette: Avoid stripping bark from living trees, as peeling exposes the wood to fatal decay.

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