Birch

River birch and European white birch show off two very different barks, one peeling in cinnamon layers and the other gleaming bright white. Both have light, airy canopies that cast gentle shade before turning clear buttery yellow in fall. River birch handles wet soils along ponds, streams, and rain gardens, while either makes an elegant lawn specimen. Finches feed on the seeds and buds, and the trees support a wide range of insects. Birch seed is tiny and should be scattered on top of the soil where light can reach it, with a brief chill helping some species.