Betula nigra
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- BET-yoo-luh NY-gruh
- Description
-
River birch is a native deciduous, upright, flowering tree with cinnamon-brown, exfoliating bark and yellow fall foliage that tends to drop off the tree quickly. A member of the Betulaceae (birch) family, it is the only native birch that does well in low elevations of the south. 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.
River birch prefers wet sites and does best in moist, acidic, sandy, or rocky, well-drained loam 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 soil 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.
The bark of young river birch trees is reddish-brown with a papery appearance. The bark peels away year-round, and the inner bark varies in hue from light to dark. The papery bark layers remain attached, giving it an attractive ragged appearance.
Site the tree as a specimen or small grouping for shade or screening in the lawn, a rain garden, or naturalized, woodland, or riparian areas.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Although river birch is resistant to the bronze birch borer, which infects and kills trees, aphids, leaf miner, and birch skeletonizer may occur. Watch for leaf spot problems. River birch tends to shed interior leaves during summer droughts and dry periods and can become stressed by summer heat and humidity. It also tends to drop a lot of twigs, making it better suited for less manicured areas of the landscape.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Floricyle
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Dickinson'
Called 'Northern Tribute', upright rounded habit, ivory bark that exfoliates to copper-bronze, borer resistant. - 'Duraheat'
Somewhat smaller cultivar that features creamy white bark, tolerance to heat, insect/disease resistance and superior foliage. - 'Heritage'
'Heritage' or 'Cully', vigorous, fast-growing, medium-sized, single or multi-stemmed, salmon bark exfoliates to white inner bark - 'Little King'
Sold as FOX VALLEY, dense, compact (10' x 12'), multi-stemmed with irregular crown. - 'Little King'
- 'Royal Frost'
- 'Statechamp'
Variegated foliage
Weeping - 'Dickinson'
- 'Dickinson', 'Duraheat', 'Heritage', 'Little King', 'Little King', 'Royal Frost', 'Shiloh Splash', 'Statechamp', 'Summer Cascade'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Dickinson'
Called 'Northern Tribute', upright rounded habit, ivory bark that exfoliates to copper-bronze, borer resistant. - 'Duraheat'
Somewhat smaller cultivar that features creamy white bark, tolerance to heat, insect/disease resistance and superior foliage. - 'Heritage'
'Heritage' or 'Cully', vigorous, fast-growing, medium-sized, single or multi-stemmed, salmon bark exfoliates to white inner bark - 'Little King'
Sold as FOX VALLEY, dense, compact (10' x 12'), multi-stemmed with irregular crown. - 'Little King'
- 'Royal Frost'
- 'Statechamp'
Variegated foliage
Weeping - 'Dickinson'
- 'Dickinson', 'Duraheat', 'Heritage', 'Little King', 'Little King', 'Royal Frost', 'Shiloh Splash', 'Statechamp', 'Summer Cascade'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Betula
- Species:
- nigra
- Family:
- Betulaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is hard and close-grained. It is used for fuel, inexpensive furniture, basket hoops, artificial limbs, and toys. Native Americans are known to have used this tree in many different medicinal purposes. Sap can be fermented to make birch beer.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- VT south to FL west to TX north through OK, NE, MI, IO, and MN
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Host plant for Mourning Cloak and Dreamy Duskywing butterflies. You may see Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) which has one flight from June-July, Dreamy Duskywing (Erynnis icelus) with one brood April-July and rarely a second in the south, and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilo glaucus) which has three flights from February-November in the south and two flights May-September in the north. Young twigs, buds, and foliage browsed by white-tailed deer. Seeds consumed by grouse, turkey, small birds and rodents. Birds and squirrels eat the male catkins in late winter/early spring.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Edible fruit
- Pieces Used in Games
- Screening
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wind Break
- Wind Shimmer
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- fire in the landscape.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 90 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-trunked
- Open
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3b, 3a, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- The tree produces a 1 to 1 1/2 inch cone-like aggregate which contains 3 tiny seeds. Small nutlet, about 400,000 seeds per pound, seed is shed in the spring.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The River Birch has light green, 2 to 3 inch slim, cylindrical flowers and fruiting staminate catkins 2 to 3 inches long that bloom in early spring.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Deltoid
- Ovate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaf of the River Birch is 2 to 3.5 inches long with modest yellow fall color. Leaves are 0.75 to 2.5 inches wide, pointed, sharply acute, broadly cuneate to nearly truncate, glaucous with 7-9 veins underneath.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Orange
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Papery
- Peeling
- Ridges
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Provides winter interest in the landscape. Smooth on young trees, salmon to rust-colored, develops papery scales. As the tree ages, bark divides into flat, scaly ridges. The bark peels away year-round in tough, paper-like layers that remain on the tree.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The bark of branches and twigs is grayish brown and more smooth, while new shoots are light green and pubescent.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Compaction
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Fire
- Heat
- Pollution
- Wet Soil
- Wind
- Problems:
- Messy
