SKU: TB00100

Betula nigra - River Birch is a medium-sized, native, deciduous tree with shaggy, exfoliating bark usually found along streams and wetlands. It is adaptable to drier sites and the bark makes a lovely winterscape. River Birch sometimes reaches 100 feet, but the usual height range is 50 to 80 feet and 24 to 36 inches diameter. It is usually a multi-stemmed tree. The bark is separated into thin, orange to brown papery scales, with coarse scales on lower trunks. It is fairly short-lived. It is occasionally found on scattered upland sites.

Height: 50-80'
Spread: 40-60'
Zone: 4-9
Light: Sun to part-shade, intolerant of shade
Soil type: Moist, acidic, clayey soils. Tolerates poor drainage, tolerates flooding, tolerates drier conditions
Soil pH: 2-6.4
Flowers: Green in April-May
Fruit: Catkins of small nutlets
Fall color: Yellow

Wildlife value: A number of species of birds eat river birch seeds including ruffed grouse and wild turkey. White-tailed deer browse river birch. The bottomland hardwoods in which river birch occurs are prime wildlife habitat, providing nesting sites for waterfowl, and food and cover for many animals.
Notes of Interest: better adapted to heat than other birches. Although river birches have some susceptibility to aphids, leaf miner and iron chlorosis in high pH soils, these problems are somewhat minor in comparison to the birch borer. Weakened birches become vulnerable to the bronze birch borer which typically infects and kills birches stressed by summer heat and humidity.