Leaves: usually over 3 cm long, widest above the base with a pointed tip.

Fruit: borne in catkins at least 1 cm thick, scales have ascending lobes.

Bark: grayish brown, not peeling.

Twigs: have a wintergreen scent when scratched.

Characteristics: intermediate of the parents.

Similar species: Betula x purpusii and Betula x sandbergii are both hybrids that share a common parent, Betula pumila. Betula pumila is a shrub, and both of these hybrids are more shrub-like than their other parents. Betula x sandbergii is distinguished from B. x purpusii by its lack of wintergreen odor on the stems, cross-shaped lobes on the scales of female catkins, and fewer veins on the leaves.

Flowering: May to June

Habitat and ecology: Rare in the Chicago Region, but may be found in boggy woods.

Occurence in the Chicago region: native

Etymology: Betula is the Latin name for birch. Purpusii is named after early 20th century German plant collectors, Carl and Joseph Purpus.

Author: The Morton Arboretum