The Whitespire cultivar was selected at the University of Wisconsin Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin in that it looked good and was resistant to Bronze Birch Borer that kills white barked birches that get stressed by heat and drought (or old age). At first, it was believed to be from the Japanese Asian White Birch (Betula platyphylla japonica) but some years later it was realized that it was a selection from the Gray Birch (Betula populifolia,) Whitespire is offered at good number of nurseries in the northern USA. Landscape architects and homeowners both use this cultivar. It grows about 1.5 to 2 feet/year and normally lives at least 40 years in landscapes and should often get to 60 years, but we will see. It has the white, tight bark and triangular leaves of the Gray Birch, of course.

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