Trees with white bark can provide a striking contrast for your yard. There are several species of trees with white bark that you can use, including sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), white poplar (Populus alba), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) and ghost gum (Eucalyptus papuana). Sycamore and white poplar trees are large trees with spreading growth habits that perform well in open landscapes. Quaking aspen provides a more compact form that is better suited to landscaping in limited spaces.
Sycamore
Sycamore trees have white bark that peels from the trunk in patches. The main trunk of sycamores typically split into two to four large branches that support spreading foliage with a symmetrical shape that can reach 50 to 70 feet in width and 75 to 90 feet in height. Sycamore trees can grow in most conditions but need an open area with full exposure to sunlight. The root system of sycamores can tolerate periods of extended flooding but the tree grows best in well-drained soils. Sycamores create shallow roots that can damage pavement and interfere with mowing. You can grow sycamore trees in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4b through 9a.
White Poplar
White poplar trees have a fast growth rate and can reach a height o 60 to 100 feet with foliage that spreads 40 to 50 feet wide. The bark of white poplar trees has a smooth texture and white color that darkens and develops ridges as the tree reaches the end of its lifespan. The leaves of white poplar have a silvery underside that contrasts with their dark green face. White poplars have a single upright trunk that produces many smaller branches with an upright form. White poplars grow best with full exposure to sunlight and have a high tolerance to dry growing conditions. The wood of this tree is brittle and can break under high winds, making it unsuitable for use near buildings. The best growing area for a white poplar is an open area with well-drained soil in USDA zones 4 through 9.
Quaking Aspen
The quaking aspen is a medium sized tree that typically reaches 50 feet in height with narrow foliage that grows to 25 feet in width. The quaking aspen has smooth bark with a creamy color that may have a greenish tint on young trees. As quaking aspens age the bark becomes darker and often develop thick ridges. Quaking aspens grow best in areas that are directly exposed to sunlight throughout the day but it can also tolerate partially shaded areas. This tree grows on most types of soil and it can tolerate periodic flooding. Quaking aspen can spread itself through suckering roots that will form new trees in the surrounding area. This tree grows throughout USDA zones 1 to 10.
Ghost Gum
The ghost gum is a native tree of Australia that has smooth bark with a bright white color. This tree forms a single main trunk that splits into numerous small branches that support long narrow leaves that give the foliage a feathery appearance. Ghost gums typically grow between 40 and 60 feet in height with narrow foliage that reaches 20 to 25 feet in width. Ghost gums grow best in areas with full exposure to sunlight in USDA zones 9 to 11.
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My wife and I were trying to think of what trees had white bark. I knew aspen trees had
white bark because I had seen them in Santa Fe, New Mexico when I was 17 and 18 when
I went to a private boarding school for my senior year in high school there in 1965 and graduated there in May of 1966. So,
I had seen the Aspen's leaves turn first gold then silver as they shimmered in the winds
magically near or from afar then. It and the snow was one of my delights in moving there
from Los Angeles for my senior year in High School then.
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