Trees With Peeling Bark: A Unique and Eye-catching Phenomenon

Have you ever seen a tree with peeling bark? It’s a pretty unique sight, and it’s definitely eye-catching. Many people are curious about this phenomenon, and they want to know why it occurs.

In this guide, we will discuss the causes of peeling bark in trees, as well as some of the benefits of this natural phenomenon.

Causes of Peeling Bark

Peeling bark is a pretty common occurrence in trees, and there are a few different reasons why it happens. Here are some of the most common causes:

  • Growth - As trees grow, their bark expands. This can cause the outer layer of bark to peel away from the tree.
  • Injury - If a tree is injured, the bark will often start to peel away from the affected area. This is a defense mechanism that helps protect the tree from further damage.
  • Disease - Diseases can also cause the bark to peel away from the tree. This is usually due to the bark being weakened by the disease, which makes it more susceptible to peeling.
  • Damage - Damage from things like storms, fire, or even insects can cause the bark to peel away.

There are a few other causes of peeling bark, but these are the most common ones. Now that we know what causes peeling bark, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of this phenomenon.

Top 7 Trees with the Most Beautiful Peeling Bark

Trees with peeling bark are definitely a sight to behold. The following list showcases the top seven trees with the most beautiful peeling bark.

1. Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)

Native to eastern North America, the silver maple is a large deciduous tree that can grow up to 70 feet tall. The tree gets its name from the silvery-white color of its bark, which often peels in long strips. The peeling bark is thin and papery, revealing the tree’s bright green inner bark.

Acer saccharinum is a beautiful tree that is often planted as an ornamental. The silver maple is also a popular choice for bonsai due to its unique peeling bark. The young trees are often used in grafting and rootstocks due to their vigorous growth.

2. Paperbark maple (Acer griseum)

Paperbark maple is a small tree that’s native to central China. It’s often grown as an ornamental plant in the U. S. This tree gets its name from its thin, papery bark that peels away in sheets. The exfoliating bark is reddish-brown, and reveals corky layers beneath.

The paperbark maple is a slow-growing tree, and can live to be 100 years old. It’s tolerant of a wide range of soils and does best in full sun. This tree is susceptible to a few diseases, including verticillium wilt and canker.

3. Birch (Betula spp.)

Birch trees are also known for their peeling bark, which can be used as an identification tool. The paper birch (Betula papyrifera) is the most well-known species of birch with this trait. Birch bark peels in thin, papery layers that can easily be removed by hand.

The inner bark of the birch tree is white or pale yellow, and very smooth. This inner layer is what’s used to make paper products like birch bark baskets and canoes.

The outer layer of the bark is darker and rougher. This layer is what peels off in thin sheets. The yellow foliage of the birch tree is another identifying factor.

4. Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

The sycamore is a massive tree that can grow up to 80 feet tall. It has thick, brown bark that peels off in large, flat sheets. The sycamore is a popular tree for landscaping because it is both unique and eye-catching.

The sycamore is a deciduous tree, meaning that it loses its leaves in the fall. These leaves are large, and have a deep lobed shape. They are dark green in color, and turn yellow or brown in the fall. The sycamore is also a fast-growing tree, and can live for up to 500 years.

5. Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

The crape myrtle is a popular ornamental tree in the southern United States. Its smooth, mottled bark begins to peel in late spring or early summer, revealing colorful inner bark in shades of pink, purple, red, and orange.

The peeling bark is an important winter survival trait, as it helps the tree to shed moisture and protect itself from frost damage. The outer bark peels away in thin sheets, while the inner bark is thick and corky.

6. Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata)

Shagbark hickory is a type of hickory tree that is easily identified by its shaggy, peeling bark. The tree grows to be about 50-75 feet tall, and has a life span of 100-150 years. 

The shagbark hickory is a native tree to the eastern United States, and can be found in states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The shagbark hickory’s bark is its most distinguishing feature.

The bark begins to peel into long strips that can reach up to 12 inches in length. The peeling bark is not only aesthetically pleasing, it also serves as a form of protection for the tree.

7. Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa)

The Chinese dogwood is small to a medium-sized deciduous tree that grows up to 20 feet tall. The tree has glossy, dark green leaves, and clusters of white flowers in the spring. The Chinese dogwood is native to China, Korea, and Japan.

The bark of the Chinese dogwood peels in thin, papery layers. The peeling bark is reddish-brown to gray in color, and reveals the bright orange inner bark. The Chinese dogwood is a popular ornamental tree, and is used in landscaping for its unique and colorful appearance.

These are just a few of the many trees that have beautiful peeling bark. If you are looking for a unique and eye-catching tree for your landscape, be sure to consider one of these options.

Benefits of Peeling Bark

Even though it might not look very nice, peeling bark can actually be beneficial for trees. Here are some of the ways that peeling bark can help trees:

  • It helps them regulate their temperature - The process of photosynthesis generates a lot of heat, and the bark helps regulate the tree's temperature.
  • It protects them from disease - The bark is the tree's first line of defense against diseases and pests.
  • It helps them heal - If a tree is injured, the peeling bark can help it heal by forming a barrier against infection.

As you can see, there are a few benefits to peeling bark. It helps regulate the temperature of the tree, as well as protects the tree in general. In some tree species, the outer bark is very thin and peels off easily. This helps the tree to lose excess heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, they are not the same thing. Coral bark maple is a type of tree that has coral-colored bark, and bark flakes are thin pieces of bark that peel off of trees.

The fragrant pink flowers attract pollinators, and the orange inner bark is a food source for animals.

Yes, the seven son flower tree’s bark peels in thin layers. This is a common trait in many trees.

Trees with peeling bark are a unique and eye-catching phenomenon. The peeling bark serves a few purposes, such as helping the tree regulate its temperature and protecting it from disease. If you’re looking for a unique tree for your landscape, be sure to consider one of the many trees that have peeling bark.