If you take even a cursory look at both types of trees, you will immediately see that they hardly have anything in common, at least visually. But this does not automatically have to apply to the inner values. So let's take another look at them.
How are maple and birch different?
The maple and birch trees are different, as is their wood. Maple woodislight brown to reddish gray, has a uniform structure and is used in interior design and for furniture production. Birch woodislighter, has little load-bearing capacity, is easy to process and has a high calorific value.
What are the most striking visual differences?
Both tree species are deciduous, grow to around 25 to 30 meters high and bloom from March. But the differences outweigh the differences.
Birch (Betula)
- Age: up to around 150 years
- Growth habit: upright, loose crown; partly overhanging branches
- Leaves: 0.5 to 10 cm long, depending on the variety; oval to triangular; sawn
- Fruits: brown-yellow, winged nuts
- Flowers: Catkins about 10 cm long and yellow; female flowers: 2-4 cm long and inconspicuous
- Bark: white with black pattern
Maple (Acer)
- Age: 200 to 500 years
- Growth habit: depending on the variety, from small shrubs to large trees
- Leaf: 10-15 cm long; five-pointed pointed
- Flowers: inconspicuous; yellow-green
- Fruits: winged split fruits
- Bark: smooth; gray with pattern
How does the wood differ in appearance?
The birch is a sapwood tree that does not produce a colored core. The wood can be light, yellowish to reddish white or light brown, with a slightly silky sheen. The grain shows little pattern. Annual rings are clearly visible, and reddish-brown pith spots can appear in between. Maple wood has fine pores and an even structure. Depending on the species, it is coloredlight brown or reddish gray. Annual rings are visible, and spots or stripes can appear in between. The wood of theNorway mapleis considered a valuableNoble hardwood
What properties do the woods have?
Maple woods are easy to peel and are suitable for drilling, milling, turning and carving. They have good bending ability, the hardness varies depending on the species. Birch wood is strong and at the same timeflexibleThe wood is not very resilient and therefore has a low load-bearing capacity. However, due to its toughness and low weight, it iseasy to process, peeling, carving, staining, etc. Both types of wood areodorless,hardly weather-resistant and have low resistance to insects and fungi.
How are maple and birch wood used?
Maple woodis widely used ininterior constructionand as construction wood. It is used to produce high-qualityfurniture, parquets and kitchen utensils. Because of its resilience, maple wood is also often used for stair construction. Since it is not weatherproof, it is rarely used outdoors. In Germany,birchwoodis mainly used to makeplyboardand peeled veneers. In other countries it is also used in furniture making. Birch is popular in this countryFirewood with a high calorific value.
Tip
Tap birch trees in spring and enjoy he althy birch water
If you have a birch tree with a thicker trunk, you can drill into it in spring and collect the birch water that flows out. It tastes refreshing and is extremely he althy. But first find out exactly how the tapping works so that you don't damage the birch unnecessarily.
