20 Trees With Peeling or Flaking Bark

River birch trees are native to the Mississippi River basin and grow near low-lying flood plains, river banks, and moist soil. This is why they got their name. They can grow more than 60 feet tall and are one of the popular trees for landscaping, especially for their beautiful ornamental bark.

When the birch tree is young, the bark of the tree is smooth with a salmon-pink or reddish-brown color. When the trees mature, the bark starts to peel and curl in a paper-like structure. This exposes the light cream or orange-colored inner trunk of the tree. The bark gradually turns into more darker gray or brown color with more texture as it matures. 

• The bark of river birch is used as ornamental bark because of its appealing color and its ability to withstand wet climatic conditions. 

Although paperbark maple is native to China, it has been introduced in North America and has remained widely popular.  They grow in clay, loamy, and sandy soil. Paperbark maple is a good-looking ornamental tree and is a perfect choice for a small yard. This plant grows slowly but lasts long and can grow 20 to 30 feet tall. 

Paperbark maple is known for peeling its cinnamon-colored bark into a thin strip. When the plant matures, the outer bark becomes thick, rough, and inflexible. Thus, the plant peels its outer layer to accommodate the increasing body, which reveals the smooth and lighter inner portion of the tree. 

• The new barks will allow paperbark maple trees to absorb moisture and nutrients and promote the health of the plant.  

American sycamore is native to most parts of North America and grows in clay, loamy, or sandy soil. This tree can grow more than 75 meters and reach heights up to 100 meters.

When the sycamore tree matures, the accumulation of different layers on the bark causes its mottling. The mature sycamore then loses its hard, blotched, or patchy bark in irregular flakes. This reveals its smooth and lighter inner bars.

• The flaking of barks adds more natural beauty to the trees and this makes American sycamore a good choice for landscaping.

Shagbark hickory is widespread in the eastern region of the US. They are also found in central Europe but were introduced a few centuries ago, making them an invasive species there. They sometimes grow more than 100 feet in height in moist soil and humid climates. 

When the shagbark hickory tree matures the bark becomes thick, rough, and inflexible. This bark starts to form long and shaggy strips that slip away from the trunk of the tree causing their flaking.  

• The rough bark of shagbark hickory provides aesthetic beauty and harbors several species of insects, birds, and bats. 

Lacebark pine is native to China and is found in well-drained and slightly acidic soil. A mature lacebark pine can grow a height of up to 50 feet. 

The bark of lacebark pine is smooth and grey at a young age. But when the tree matures, the bark becomes thick, rough, and mottled. The outer bark gradually loses its adherence with the inner layer. This causes the outer bark to separate from the inner layer and start to fall in flakes. The flakes can be as small as a coin to large flakes.

• The patches on the bark provide a camouflage to lacebark pine, which is unique and not found in other pines.

Silver maple is widely distributed in the eastern region of the US and grows well in well-drained, coarse, sandy, and loamy soil. These trees can reach a height of more than 115 feet. 

The bark of young silver maple is smooth and gray. As it matures, the bark starts to peel and flake in the trunk and the larger branches. The silver maple's bark develops deep ridges and cracks that give it a more untamed, textured appearance with time. The peeling of silver maple is more visible in the winter.

• The appealing appearance is given off by the contrast between the softer inner layers and the dark, wrinkled bark, which is enhanced by snow or frost.

Japanese stewartia is found in temperate regions of East Asia, especially in Japan and the Korean peninsula. This tree grows well in cool climatic conditions, slightly acidic soil, and loamy soil, and it has a good amount of organic matter. It can reach a height of 40 feet.

When the Japanese stewartia grows into an adult, the outer bark peels and flakes, and a composite of colors like orange, grey, green, etc. is seen. This vibrant coloration is attractive and makes them a good choice among many people.

• The color of the bark is more vibrant and pronounced in the winter.

Kousa dogwood grows in well-drained loamy soil and cannot thrive in soil that retains too much water. They grow in mountains of east Asia., ie in Japan, China, and Korea, and can reach a height of around 30 feet.

When the kousa dogwood tree matures, the dark outer barks peel or flakes off showing the tan or brown color of the inner bark. When the dogwood tree loses all its leaves in the winter, the bark of the tree makes it captivating.

• The peeling of kousa dogwood is more appealing in winter than at other times.

Redbud tree grows in well-drained soil and can thrive in sandy or loamy soil. This tree can grow between 20 and 30 feet in height. It is very common in the eastern region of the US. This tree also has good resistance against drought. 

The bark is smooth and gray when the redbud tree is young and becomes more brownish or reddish color when it matures. When the tree matures, the bark cracks and flakes, showing the smooth inner surface. 

• The older the tree gets, the darker the patches become.

Parrotia is also known as Persian wood and is commonly distributed throughout northern Iran and countries in the Caucasus region. They grow in loamy, clay, and sandy soil and thrive in well-drained soil. 

When parrotia matures, the outer bark becomes thick and gives a bright texture. The outer bark then cracks and flakes off in strips showing smooth but blotched inner parts.

• The peeling is more pronounced and captivating in the winter. 

Although the eucalyptus tree is originally from Australia, it can be found throughout the world and is planted in gardens, backyards, parks, and other public spaces. This tree grows in well-drained loamy soil and can reach a height of more than 40 feet while some can exceed 60 feet in height.

The bark of the eucalyptus tree dies almost every year. Even though the mature and rough bark accumulates and does not fall very often, the smooth bark peels in thin strips or flakes revealing a creamy white color. The peeling or flaking of bark in the eucalyptus tree helps the plant to get rid of its toxins and resins that might harm its growth.

• Eucalyptus is an aromatic plant and can be another good choice for landscaping as well.

Whitebarked Himalayan birch grows in the Himalayas, especially in Northwestern India and Nepal. This tree can grow in acidic, sandy, and loamy soil and is well adapted to the rocky environment of the Himalayas. The whitebarked Himalayan birch can grow to a height of 40 feet.

The outer bark of whitebarked Himalayan birch is smooth and white. When the matures, the bark becomes thick and flakes off, which reveals the cinnamon-colored inner bark. This smooth white color bark adds more ornamental value to this tree.

• The gaps created during peeling provide habitat to some species of insects.

Tibetan cherry originates from Tibet and Western China. This tree grows in moist soil rich in organic materials and can reach heights up to 40 feet. 

Tibetan cherry has copper-colored bark. The outer bark peels off in small and thin layers between late summer and early fall. This reveals the reddish-brown color of the inner bark. 

• When the sunlight strikes the peeling barks, it shines the bark.

Seven-son flower or Heptacodium is a rare flowering plant and is very hard to find. This plant is native to China and grows in clay, loamy, or sandy soil with a height between 15 to 20 feet. Although it can grow in moist soil, it thrives in well-drained soil.

The brown and gray bark of the seven-son flower peels in the cooler seasons, especially in winter, which reveals the lighter inner bark.

• Even the small branches of this plant can peel.

Paper birch is found in North America and grows well in sandy, rocky, and acidic soil. It needs moist and well-drained soil and does not do well in wet soil. The height of this tree can range from 60 feet to 130 feet.

The bark of paper birch is brown when it is young. When the tree matures, the bark turns pale white or grey and starts to peel off in paper-like layers. The peeling reveals orange or pinkish inner bark. 

• The bark of paper birch is smooth and silk-like in touch.

Lagerstroemia thrives in warmer climates and is commonly found in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and some countries in Oceania. They grow in moist and well-drained soil. Some are small in height while some are tall reaching more than 100 feet. 

The bark of Lagerstroemia peels in a vertical strip which reveals the gray or greenish colored inner bark. This peeling of bark gives Lagerstroemia a mottled texture.  

• The bark's color of the Lagerstroemia tree might change with age.

Scotch pine or Baltic pine is common in Eurasia. It grows in sandy or loamy soil and prefers well-drained soil. Scotch pine can grow more than 5o feet in height, some even exceed the height of 100 feet. 

The bark of scotch pine is orange-brownish in color and later changes into greyish-brown. When the scotch pine matures, the bark becomes scaly and thick. Unlike most other trees, this does not peel, instead it flakes in smaller pieces. 

• The flakes of scotch pines are around 5 cm in thickness.

Weeping golden willow is commonly found in Europe and Asia. This tree grows well in slightly acidic and moist soil and the height ranges from 50 to 75 feet. 

When the tree matures, the bark might develop fissures and fall off.

• The lines on the tree are in the shape of diamonds.

It is a hybrid of American sycamore and oriental plane tree. This tree is often planted on the side of the road and is very popular in London. This tree can reach a height of 85 feet. 

When the bark of the London plane tree becomes hard and inflexible, the bark flakes which leaves a mottled trunk. 

• The bark of the London plane tree has patterns that give it a camouflage.

Zelkova is common in East Asia, particularly in China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan. This tree grows in loamy soil and can reach a height of 70 to 80 feet.

When the zelkova tree matures, the grayish-brown bark peels off and reveals red-brown or orange-brown inner bark.

• The bark of the zelkova tree peels in old age.

Peeling or flaking of bark is a process through which the outer bark gets detached from the trunk and falls off. When the tree matures, the bark becomes thick and rough in some trees and peels or flakes off. 

Peeling or flaking can be a natural process in which the tree loses its inflexible bark to accommodate the growing girth of the tree. Sometimes, however, this might be because of pests, diseases, or some environmental stresses. 

Some of the tree species naturally shed their bark. Sometimes they might be because of diseases, pests, injury, etc. 

Natural Growth

When the tree grows in height and width, the existing barks might not be able to accommodate it. Thus, as a part of the natural growing process, the bark falls giving way to a regrowth of new bark.

Pests

Although the falling of the bark of a tree because of pests is not very common, it can sometimes happen because of the stress these pests put on the plant. Sometimes, different pests like beetles, rodents, squirrels, porcupines, etc. can bore a hole or chew the bark of the tree, introducing diseases, feeding plant tissues, etc.

Weather

Sometimes the weather can affect the bark causing them to peel or flake. For instance, sunscalding can peel or crack the bark, and the bark might fall. Similarly, low temperature and frost can also crack the bark.

Mechanical Injury

Mechanical damage from humans can also lead to the peeling and flaking of bark. Pruning, lawnmowing, trimming, and other activities might lead to the falling of bark in some cases.

Diseases

Few diseases like fungal infections specifically affect the bark of the trees and cause it to decay. For instance, the canker disease can cause dead patches of bark which consequently peels off the bark away.

Environmental Stresses

Different environmental stresses like drought, soil compaction, inadequate drainage, etc. can peel the bark of trees. For example, when there is drought, the bark dries and cracks up, which will ultimately fall off.

Similarly, inadequate drainage can accumulate water in the soil causing oxygen deprivation in the roots. This will create an ideal environment for fungi to thrive.

There are some advantages of peeling or flaking bark for the tree. Let us look into some of the advantages of such phenomena. 

Pest And Disease Management

Peeling or flaking of bark helps the plant to get rid of pests and other disease-causing agent. This will influence the overall growth of the plant.

Natural Growth

As we have already discussed before, the peeling and flaking of bark is a natural process in some tree species which will help in the new growth of bark. This will help to contain the growing plant.

Exchange of Gas

The removal of outer bark reveals cambium and phloem which assist in exchanging gases by diffusing more amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide. This will increase the metabolic rate of the plants and help them to grow at a faster rate. In addition, peeling will aid in the escape of excess moisture regulating transpiration.

Aesthetic Benefits

The peeling and flaking of barks on the trunk and branches provide aesthetic beauty. This is the reason why many landscapers prefer to have trees that peel or flake for their projects.