Geography

• Various species of birch and maple are tolerant of cold climates, with types of each growing in cold regions, including U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone 3. However, many more maples than birches do well in warm climates, including Zones 8 and 9. Only the river birch withstands the heat and humidity associated with these zones while maple species, such as Japanese, hedge, trident, Freeman, painted, silver and red maples, all grow into these southerly areas.
  
  

Leaves

• Maple leaves are palmate and usually larger than those of birches.Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
  
  Birch leaves have noticeably toothed edges and obvious veins running from their midrib outward to their sides. They are elliptical to oval in shape, with a distinct point at the end and rounded or blunt bases. Maple leaves feature multiple lobes in most cases, with palmate leaves that resemble outstretched, open hands. Maple leaves are renowned for their array of fall colors while most birch trees, although they do turn in fall, do so to shades of yellow. Maple leaves are larger on average than the foliage on birch trees. Species, such as the bigleaf maple, can generate leaves up to 12 inches wide while the largest birch leaves rarely exceed 3 inches in width.
  
  

Flowers and Fruit

• Birches and maples have their male and female flowers on the same tree, but birch flowers resemble drooping tassels while those of maples are frequently brightly colored and showy. Birches produce strobiles, cone-like structures that contain the seeds that disintegrate once ripe, scattering them about. Maple tree seeds, called samaras, are wing-like, and they often develop in back-to-back pairs. They fall off the twigs when ripe, floating to the ground like tiny helicopters.
  
  

Bark

• Maple bark, with a few exceptions, is rough, furrowed and dark-colored on older specimens but often smooth on younger trees. Birches, such as paper and river birch, have exfoliating bark. It peels away to show off inner layers of different colors, giving the tree interest in winter when its leaves are gone.