If you’re looking for the most versatile of the trees with white bark, then the silver birch tree is your best option.
Why are the trees on the roadside painted white, what is the science behind it
You must have often seen a row of trees on the side of the road or highway. The trunk of the tree must have been painted white. Ever wondered why trees are painted white? What difference does it make to the tree? Know what is the science behind it…
You must have often seen a row of trees on the side of the road or highway. The trunk of the tree must have been painted white. Ever wondered why trees are painted white? What difference does it make to the tree? Actually, there is science behind it too. The connection of painting trees with lime is related to their safety. Know how this affects the trees?
Scientifically there are many reasons for painting trees white. Lime is used to paint them. By painting with lime, lime reaches every lower part of the tree. Due to this, the tree does not get insects or termites and the age of the tree increases. Lime works to protect the outer layer of the tree. Experts say, if lime is applied on the outer layer, its bark does not crack or even break.
There are many trees that have been cut from above. Yet the whole tree is painted white. There is a scientific reason behind this too. Research from Cornell University says, the white color used in panting protects the new follicles that are damaged by the direct rays of the sun. Due to the white color, the risk of damage to the new shoots decreases.
There is another reason for painting the trees white. These trees, painted in white color on long distance roads, also act as a road sign when there is no street light. As soon as the light falls on them in the dark, it becomes clear how wide the path is. Especially in densely forested routes, this is definitely done and the driver gets help.
Researchers at Cornell University say, oil paint should never be used to paint trees. This can have a bad effect on the growth of trees. If lime is used, then the quantity of water should be more, so that the trees are not harmed in any way.
Why Do Trees Change Color?
Texas A&M Forest Service experts explain the science behind fall foliage and where you can find it in Texas.
By Texas A&M Forest Service November 25, 2020
Share
0 Shares
Trees are remarkable plants, and at no time is that more apparent than in the fall, when deciduous trees — bracing themselves for the winter — begin their transition into dormancy. The result is a vibrant and magnificent display of colors.
It’s not just an act of visual poetry – it’s chemistry. It can explain why some trees turn the color they do, why some regions have better displays of foliage and how that changing of colors benefits the tree itself.
Trees are surprisingly sensitive, and the reasons for a tree’s behavior in the fall could depend on the conditions it faced six or even nine months before.
“Trees are entirely weather dependent,” said Allen Smith, regional forest health coordinator. A drought in May could lead to a quick, underwhelming tinge of foliage in November; a relentless heat wave in August can scorch tree leaves badly enough that they drop early and suddenly come autumn; and an early freeze from a cold front has the potential of sending trees into a panicked, sudden dormancy.
“The healthier the leaf is to begin with, the more vibrancy you’re going to see in the fall,” Smith said.
Leaves are colored by the same compound that makes up our complexion – pigment. The difference is that a tree’s pigmentation is predominantly influenced by the act of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is a molecule used in photosynthesis, and it’s responsible for the green pigment. That is why green is the dominant color of any tree leaf for the majority of its life cycle. The other pigments — xanthophylls (yellows), carotenes (oranges), and anthocyanins (reds, purples, blues and blacks) — have also been there all along. It’s only when the tree begins to prepare for dormancy that these other pigments are allowed to shine – mostly because, in preparation for winter, the tree stops producing chlorophyll, the green pigmentation fades, and the other pigments are made visible.
The question of why some trees change certain colors has a more tenuous answer. Carotenes are pigments found in fruits and vegetables, including carrots, oranges, some bell peppers and even squash. Xanthophylls, the yellow pigment seen in most transitioning trees, is the same pigment that colors egg yolks and, occasionally, parts of the human eye. It is produced exclusively in plants, though, so it appears in humans and animals only through consumption.
The last of the primary pigments, and the most impressive of the fall colors, comes from anthocyanin. This is the same pigment that can be found in blueberries, blackberries, and red or violet roses. The coloration of the pigment depends on the PH level of the plant. The higher the PH level, the darker the coloration. This is the color seen in red maples, black cherry trees, Shumard oaks and more.
All of these pigments are attached to chemicals that serve a purpose for the plant. Carotenoids (carotene and xanthophyll) help trees absorb light energy, which is key when transitioning into dormancy because once the act of photosynthesis shuts down, the tree turns its focus to salvaging the energy in its leaves before they fall. Without photosynthesis to transform that light into sugar, the sunlight hitting the plant can actually become harmful: just as it can be harmful to people when they stay in the sunlight too long.
Carotenoids absorb that light to prevent sun damage, but anthocyanins go the extra mile. Unlike carotenoids, anthocyanins are generated for the sole purpose of shading the chlorophyll, preventing it from producing excess light energy. That’s why trees with anthocyanins are much more vibrant. The red pigment is being actively and intentionally produced to block sunlight.
Only 10% of trees in temperate climates produce that red pigmentation. Very few areas of the United States have a higher rate of anthocyanin-producing trees. New England, being the most pronounced, has forests with as much as 70% of its trees producing anthocyanin.
While it’s difficult to match that level of color in the south, Texas does have pockets of forest that defy their subtropical climate and produce magical, color-shifting leaves. The Lost Maples State Park, for instance, hosts a whole forest of native Texas Red Maple trees; Bald Cypresses along the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers turn a gorgeous rust in the fall, outlining rivers across the Texas Hill Country; and hardwoods in the eastern forests of Texas stand vibrantly yellow, orange and red against the evergreen sea of longleaf pines.
“It just really depends on the tree and the ecosystem,” said Sam Rhodes, a staff forester with the Texas A&M Forest Service. “We do have wonderful fall foliage down here, we just don’t have a lot of forest cover types like they do in the northeast.”
Instead, the majority of Texas is occupied by oak and juniper woodlands. You can find pines and other hardwoods in the eastern regions of Texas, where more diverse forests provide the opportunity for fall foliage. The oak-mixed ecosystems of central-to-west Texas, however, tend to not be as showy as their counterparts further east. This can occur for a multitude of reasons, from heat scorching to the amount of carotenoids each tree produces.
“Every tree is different, so every tree is producing different quantities of those chemicals,” Rhodes said. “If a tree doesn’t produce a whole bunch of it, it might not turn a whole bunch of colors in the fall. It might just turn brown, and then the leaf might fall.”
And it almost always depends on their environment – everything from climate and the length of the summer, to the type of soil the trees are growing in.
One perk of living in the south, though, is the delayed and sometimes prolonged period of transition that trees experience. This foliage map will show you how Texas trees are still predominantly in the early stages of transition. While the rest of the country is hunkering down for the winter, still has fall foliage to look forward to.
Download the Texas Scenic Views* app to find a fall foliage hotspot or a road-trip route with gorgeous seasonal scenery near you.
* This link is no longer active and has been removed.
Paper Bark Birch (Betula papyrifera)
A native tree, the paper birch is a popular choice for homeowners looking for trees with white bark to add to their garden. Growing moderately fast (up to 2 feet per year) and reaching 70 feet at maturity, it is a great choice if you are looking for best trees for privacy and screening.
‘This tree is also brilliant for gardeners who are interested in encouraging wildlife into the gardens as the paper birch will provide food and habitat for numerous species of birds, moose, white-tailed deer, and small mammals,’ says Shelby.
Why are some trees white?
Some trees are white because they have naturally white bark. The white color helps to protect the tree against damage from the sun by reflecting the light rather than absorbing it and its heat.
However, some trees are white because they have been painted white. Far from being an aesthetic choice, painting trees white is actually very beneficial to the tree for much the same reason that trees have naturally white bark. The white paint helps to reflect the sunlight and heat and thus keep the tree cooler and reduce the effects of sun damage.
Painting trees is a particularly popular practice in areas with high temperatures and high UV-indices. If you are painting your trees, it is important to use a white latex rather than oil-based paint, as an oil-based paint will cause more harm than good.
What trees have white bark?
The weeping cherry tree, Japanese white birch, gum trees, Himalayan birch, Paper Bark birch and Aspen are all trees that have white bark. All of these trees have the classic white trunk that appears to glow in the sunlight and catches the eye on a frosty morning.
Another tree with white bark is the silver poplar, which is also called the white poplar. ‘Frequently used in landscaping, white poplars are not a good choice for the garden,’ says Shelby DeVore. ‘They are an invasive species and in numerous states. In fact, it’s illegal to possess or own them. Silver poplars are notorious for spreading and creating invasive colonies. The aggressive way that they reproduce and their fast growth rate means that they often out-compete native trees and become a nuisance plant.’ Therefore, it is best to avoid planting silver or white poplar trees in your garden.
