Water Birch Betula nigra 'Shiloh Splash' (PP16,362)

Betula is Latin for birch and describes a genus of about 60 species of deciduous trees and shrubs found in many gardens and landscapes throughout the northern hemisphere. Betula nigra 'Shiloh Splash", a cultivar of Betula nigra, is a deciduous, variegated, flowering tree with papery, tan, and peach bark and green leaves that appear to have had their margins dunked in creamy-white paint. Tiny monoecious (male and female) flowers appear in early spring in separate catkins on the same tree. Greenish female flowers are followed by drooping cone-like fruits containing numerous small winged seeds that typically mature in late summer.

Discovered by John and Danny Allen at Shiloh Nursery, ‘Shiloh Splash’ River Birch has can be used as a shrub or small tree in the landscape. This native river birch is one of the most popular trees for southern nurseries and landscapes. It is used extensively due to its attractive ornamental features and excellent adaptability. Well mannered, Shiloh Splash will grow to be about 10-15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 8-10 feet (as opposed to the 80-foot height sometimes reached by Betula nigra). 'Shiloh Splash' River Birch has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground.  Propagation studies found that this cultivar roots readily from terminal, softwood cuttings (taken in mid-July) with optimal treatments consisting of basal dips of 2,000 – 4,000 ppm of either KIBA or IBA in 50% isopropyl alcohol. This cultivar can be expected to live up to 70 years.

River Birch prefers wet sites and does best in moist, acidic, sandy, or rocky, well-drained loams in full sun to part shade. The best foliage color occurs in full sun. River birch is perhaps the most culturally adaptable and heat tolerant of the birches. This species has been known to tolerate flooded conditions for extended periods of time. For this reason, it is naturally found in riverbanks, streambanks, and floodplains. It is also quite wind resistant. In the landscape, keep the tree consistently moist and consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist. It needs little pruning, but if necessary, you can prune during the dormant season. Do not prune in winter or spring when the sap is running because it will bleed.  It tends to drop lots of twigs, making it better suited for less manicured areas of the landscape.

Insects, Diseases and Other Problems:  One of the only birch species with resistance to bronze birch borer. Aphids, leaf miner and birch skeletonizer may occur. Watch for leaf spot problems. Susceptible to chlorosis in alkaline soils.

More information on Betula nigra.