Trees with peeling bark could be a sign of an infestation of pests or disease. However, for some trees, it’s part of the growth process and appeal.
Most trees shed bark annually to create room for new growth. On peeling bark trees like the shagbark hickory, though, a lot of the bark stays on the tree. The twisting bark is the motivation for the tree’s name.
Many tree types discard bark yearly as part of their expected growth. Below are some of the trees:
Trees with Peeling Bark: Shagbark Hickory
The shagbark hickory is a gradual grower. This tree makes bumper crops of sweet nutmeats enclosed in tiny hard shells surrounded by bright-green outer husks with time.
True to the tree’s name, the bark grows into slim, long strips that peel back from the trunk to provide the tree with a fuzzy look. As a tree matures, the more the bark curls. If not bothered, shagbark hickory could live for several years and flourish to over 35 feet wide and 90 feet tall.
Though bugs feast on their leaves in the warm months, the tree is highly resistant to diseases and pests. Regardless of its effectiveness as a source of food for wildlife and humans, shagbark hickory might become a pain because of its endless dropping of nut husks, dead twigs, and leaflets.
Trident Maples and Paperbark
Many varieties of maples also display peeling bark like the trident maple and the paperback. The paperbark is known as a brush tree since it develops to a total height of over 25 feet. Its size is typically equal to its range. Its bark is a reddish-brown color and peels to show a lighter-colored bark.
Paperbark develops best in well-drained, damp soil in a sunny area that gets a little shade. Trident maple grows excellently in either full shade or full sun. Though it flourishes to just 25 feet, pruning is at times necessary to regulate the aggressive development of its upper shoots.
The Cinnamon Bark
The river birch has peeling bark the color of cinnamon. River birch is more resilient than other birch tree types. The greatest culprit to birch trees is the birch borer, a metallic brown beetle that gets into limbs and trunks. River birch endures regular flooding, making it a preference for erosion control besides streams and rivers.
Evergreen Strawberry Tree
The strawberry tree is an evergreen that flourishes to over 25 feet tall with a 30-foot expanse. Cultivated as an ornamental tree, it produces round fruits in the autumn that appeal to birds and strawberries’ color. The tree’s green and glossy leaves develop on brown-gray bark.
The strawberry tree is a gradual grower that does excellently in well-drained soil in partial shade or full sun. When older, the tree is highly resistant to drought.
Trees Without Normally Peeling Bark
Peeling bark on trees that don’t usually display that characteristic might be because of environmental reasons and typically isn’t dangerous to the trees. Circumstances impacting peeling bark on trees with natural smooth bark include severe cold and extreme drought. Irregular periods of cold and hot weather also might create breaks in the bark, making some parts peel away from the trunk.
Contact Hickory Tree Service to learn more about peeling bark trees.