The Subtle Beauty of Tree Bark

By Jeffrey Louis Johnson

I think it is important to slow down and appreciate the subtle beauty in our everyday surroundings. One way to key into this is noticing and appreciating the diverse patterns of tree bark. As distinct to a species as the shape of the leaves or the habit of form, tree bark is fascinating and beautiful. 

Some of the more distinct and interesting tree bark are birch trees. No, not all birch trees have white, papery (exfoliating) bark. The River Birch (Betula nigra) does exfoliate, but has rich light orange-red to maroon tones. Sweet Birch, aka Black Birch, (Betula lenta) has dark charcoal, almost black bark that stays smooth (non-exfoliating) until older age.

Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis), as the name suggests has subtle, yet striking orange–yellow exfoliating bark. Explore the Birch Collection near the Frerichs Garden for Wildlife, and the “Old Birch Collection” along Three-Mile Drive past the Oak and Nut Collection. 

(The non-white bark birch trees tend to be more resistant to Bronze Birch Borer, an opportunistic beetle that tunnels under the bark as a larvae killing the upper branches.) 

Other trees with distinct and interesting bark:

Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) has bark in near vertical rough fissures that plates outward. A large shade tree, the bark is quite unique to the species. See specimens in the Hackberry and Elm Collection.

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) bark is incredibly smooth and silvery into old age that makes the trees exquisite specimens. A beautiful mature specimen is near the Three-Mile Walk path south of the Rhododendron Garden about 100 meters.

One of the first trees planted on the newly acquired MLA property is Shellbark Hickory (Carya laciniosa). It is located just off Three-Mile Drive across from the Old Azaleas in the Dr. Robert J. and Delores E. Isaacson Oak and Nut Collection. The specimen, similar to its cousin Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata),   has distinct vertically plating bark. 

Amur Cherry (Prunus maackia) is also bright and distinct in the landscape. With a coppery orange trunk and younger branches, it can make a statement as an accent. There are two specimens near the Nelson Shrub Rose Garden. 

Another tree with a coppery orange trunk and younger branches is the Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). It is a handsome tree all around – foliage, form, bark. 

Get out and explore the many different characteristics of various woody trees and shrubs, especially the unique bark of mature specimens.  Winter is a great time to appreciate more of this subtle beauty.

Jeffrey Louis Johnson is a professional horticulturist. He has worked in various capacities for the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum since 1986, most recently as a Landscape Gardener maintaining many of the woody plants collections in the public areas of the Arboretum.

Jeffrey’s  passions include ecologically balanced landscapes, long term sustainability, incorporating edible plants into the landscape, encouraging native plant communities, wildlife habitat enhancement and sharing knowledge and wisdom with others. Jeffrey is also a lifelong environmentalist and conservationist.