What kind of tree peels

The generic answer that most rangers will go for when posed with the question from some bright eyed tourists or locals, is simply that the tree grows faster than the bark and so causes the bark to rupture. The mind can flow back to a similar image of an insect undergoing ecdysis to illustrate the idea.

Simply, the tree grows too big for its shoes and needs to replace them. Yet this answer seems to fall through when we are confronted with slow growing trees which equally undergo exfoliation. This tree is incredibly slow growing, only normally reaching half its potential size, and usually accompanied with a shroud of cheat sheets to increase growing speed to the enthusiastic gardener- and yet it peels.

So perhaps there are evolutionary adaptions to why trees peel, rather then it being a default to an imbalance between growth rates. By looking at River Birch, we are confronted with a tree with plenty of water supplies and so reducing water loss becomes a distant priority in the trees mind. Exfoliation occurring in this species exposes the thin inner bark layer which can undergo gas exchange. Therefore exfoliation allows a higher amount of gas exchange and transpiration to occur.

This would increase the trees metabolic rate as carbon dioxide and water no longer become such limiting factors as they were before. And so in this case exfoliating seems to allow River Birch to grow faster, and so more successfully. While this could be a selective advantage which caused River Birch to undergo exfoliating, it does not provide us with an answer for all trees.

The gray-brown bark on this large deciduous tree comes off in patches to expose light-gray wood. Its roots are invasive, and its seed balls and leaves are covered in hairs that may irritate the skin. This sycamore makes a good shade tree for a large space. This maple is one of the trees with unusual bark. It has flaking, reddish-brown bark and insignificant greenish springtime flowers. This orange leaves tree is relatively small and works well as an understory or specimen plant.

Propagate this slow-growing maple with cuttings, seeds, or grafting. Unfortunately, not much can be done to help trees with damaged bark. There is no scientific evidence showing tree wraps prevent sunscald damage. All the loose bark can be carefully removed.

However, wound dressings or tree paints are of no benefit. This article originally appeared in the August 9, issue, p. Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Horticulture and Home Pest News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required.

Its rapid growth rate and tough demeanor—resistant to smog, insects, and diseases—also make it a good choice for planting in urban neighborhoods. It grows well in various soil types—from loamy to sandy but is susceptible to damage from beetle borers and root rot. Ghost Gum makes an excellent single specimen tree but is just as attractive when planted in groups of three or more. Native to Europe and Central Asia, White popular is now grown in many countries, including zones 3 to 8 in the United States, where can become a remarkable focal point in the landscape.

White popular produces silvery-green foliage, and at maturity, it reaches feet, with a crown spread of up to 75 feet, making it well-suited for growing on large open lots. The bark on white poplar produces a light green tinge when the tree is young but will mature to a white base with contrasting black patches and dark furrowed ridges. White poplar needs a sunny location with at least 6 hours of direct sun per day, and it prefers well-drained soil.

However, it is tolerant of high moisture levels and will even withstand occasional flooding conditions. An attractive specimen in the winter landscape, the tree is popular with nesting songbirds and squirrels.

For all its positives, although, white poplar is not without challenges. The tree propagates itself quickly through sucker growth, so surrounding grounds should be carefully maintained to keep new suckers from growing.

It will survive as far north as USDA zone 2. Its bark remains smooth its entire life and the tree is often harvested for use as a veneer on high-quality wood furniture.

European popular grows quite tall, reaching feet and producing a dense crown spread of up to 33 feet. The trunk base itself can reach 3 feet in diameter at maturity, making the tree well-suited to large lots and parks where its shimmery foliage can be enjoyed in summer and its stark white bark admired in winter. The European poplar does best in a sunny location and thrives in moist but well-drained soil. It can be planted as a single specimen tree or in groupings of three or more in borders or privacy screens.