These two kinds of birch look much alike, but can be differentiated by the fact that - as their names imply - the white birch's bark is white and the yellow birch's bark is yellow.

White Birch - This tree is also called paper birch or canoe birch. A Native American legend says that Nanabush, an Ojibwe deity, beat a birch with a pine branch after it let birds steal Nanabush's meat, which the birch was supposed to guard. Ever since, birches have had black marks across their white trunks. The white birch grows up to 25 feet. Its light green leaves turn a lovely amber colour in autumn.

Yellow Birch - This tall tree often grows amongst hemlocks and sweet birch. Its bark is a gleaming yellow or silver, with lines travelling across the trunk. If its twigs are broken, they give off an odour similar to that of wintergreen. Ruffed grouse, moose, white-tailed deer and other wildlife enjoy snacking on this pretty tree. Birchbark is an extremely efficient fire-starter, even when damp. It had many purposes for Native Americans, including making canoes and wrapping their dead for burial. It was also thought of as a magic tree in some parts of Europe, because of its beauty.