Betula nigra
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- BET-yoo-luh NY-gruh
- Description
-
River Birch is a deciduous tree that may grow 60 to 80 feet tall. The leaves are alternate with doubly toothed margins. The leaves are alternate with doubly toothed margins. The bark of young trees is reddish brown with a papery appearance. Light green, 2" to 3" slim, cylindrical flowers mature in mid-spring. The tree produces a cone-like aggregate which contains 3 tiny seeds. The River Birch has graceful branches, is easy to transplant, is heat tolerant and moderately salt tolerant. This tree may drop some leaves during dry weather. The River Birch has cinnamon brown, exfoliating bark. It does best in moist, wet soil. It shows stress during hot months in well-drained soils. 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.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Spring Bark: Winter
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: River birch prefers wet sites so if you have a well-drained yard you will have yellow leaves falling during summer droughts and dry periods. Pruning should not be done in the spring due to sap "bleeds".
Quick ID Hints:
- bark peels away year round
- doubly serrate, rhombic-deltoid leaves
- inverted pins
Good bark character, peels away year round; inner bark variable in hue from light to dark; papery layers remained attached. Use as a specimen tree, shade tree, or planted in clusters; will shed interior leaves in drought. Best adaptable to moist soils, tolerant of wet soils; prefers pH below 6.5; prune in summer, bleeder in spring or fall; borers main pest
Multiple cultivars available, including dwarf and heat-tolerant forms.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Duraheat'
- 'Heritage'
- 'Little King'
- 'Little King Fox Valley'
dwarf - 'Royal Frost'
- 'Shiloh Splash'
variegated foliage - 'Statechamp'
- 'Summer Cascade'
weeping
- 'Duraheat'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Duraheat'
- 'Heritage'
- 'Little King'
- 'Little King Fox Valley'
dwarf - 'Royal Frost'
- 'Shiloh Splash'
variegated foliage - 'Statechamp'
- 'Summer Cascade'
weeping
- 'Duraheat'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Betula
- Species:
- nigra
- Family:
- Betulaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Fuel, inexpensive furniture, basket hoops, artificial limbs, and toys are made from the wood.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- 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. 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: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 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:
- Open
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
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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 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:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- Small nutlet, about 400,000 seeds per pound, seed is shed in the spring.
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-
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" slim, cylindrical flowers and fruiting staminate catkins 2-3" long that bloom in early spring.
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-
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:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaf of the River Birch is 2- 3.5". It is an alternate, simple leaf with modest yellow fall color. 0.75-2.5" wide, rhombic-deltoid, sharp acute, broad cuneate to nearly truncate, doubly serrate, glaucous with 7-9 veins underneath.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Orange
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Papery
- Ridges
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth on young trees salmon to rust colored developing papery scales. As the tree ages, bark divides into flat, scaly ridges.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Fire
- Heat
- Wet Soil
- Wind
