River Birch

Betula nigra

Pronunciation: BET-ew-luh NY-gruh
SKU #01242
4-7

Your climate might be too cold for this plant:

Change Location
LIGHT: Full sun
WATER: Keep soil moist to wet.
SIZE: Quickly reaches 40 to 60 ft. tall and wide; 70 ft. tall in ideal conditions.
$0.00

Retailers Near You

No Retailers found within 100 miles of your zipcode

Description Attractive buff-colored peeling bark is a wonderful backdrop for yellow fall color. An impressive specimen often grown as a clump of several trunks. Thrives in moist areas. Considered to be more resistant to borers than the European white birch, and one of the most adaptable and heat tolerant of the birches. Deciduous.
Bloom Time Inconspicuous; prized for foliage and bark.
Deciduous/Evergreen Deciduous
Special Features Attractive Bark, Fall Color, Improved Pest and Disease Resistance, North American Native, Fast Growing, Benefits Birds
Problems/Solutions Coastal Exposure, Deer Resistant, Erosion Control, Very Wet Areas, Road Salt Tolerant
Growth Rate Fast
Growth Habit Pyramidal
Landscape Use Windbreak, Shade Tree
Design Ideas Excellent tree for very large homesites, parks and open space. A problem solver for low lying sites to wet for many other species. Important component of the wetland wild garden and for re-vegetating disturbed sites along river banks that benefit from extensive root stabilization of eroding banks..
Flower Color Yellow
Foliage Color Green
Foliage Fall Color Yellow
Companion Plants Clethra (Clethra); Red-Twig Dogwood (Cornus); Sweet Flag (Acorus); Dappled Willow (Salix integra); Water Iris (Iris ensata); Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra)
Care Instructions Thrives in deep, loamy, moist but well-drained soil amended with sand or gravel, but highly adaptable. Water deeply, regularly in first few growing seasons to establish root system; once established tolerates mild drought, but reaches maximum growth in rich, fertile, evenly moist soils. Fertilize in early spring. Seldom requires pruning.
History Named for its habitat along the streams and rivers of eastern North America. Its range extends from Mass. to Florida, and Minnesota to Kansas. It was introduced to Britain by Peter Collinson who received seed or cuttings from John Bartram in the early 18th century.
Lore Infusions of the inner bark of river birch was used to treat a variety of ailments by many Native American tribes within its range.
Details
DescriptionAttractive buff-colored peeling bark is a wonderful backdrop for yellow fall color. An impressive specimen often grown as a clump of several trunks. Thrives in moist areas. Considered to be more resistant to borers than the European white birch, and one of the most adaptable and heat tolerant of the birches. Deciduous.
Bloom TimeInconspicuous; prized for foliage and bark.
Deciduous/EvergreenDeciduous
Special FeaturesAttractive Bark, Fall Color, Improved Pest and Disease Resistance, North American Native, Fast Growing, Benefits Birds
Problems/SolutionsCoastal Exposure, Deer Resistant, Erosion Control, Very Wet Areas, Road Salt Tolerant
Growth RateFast
Growth HabitPyramidal
Style
Landscape UseWindbreak, Shade Tree
Design IdeasExcellent tree for very large homesites, parks and open space. A problem solver for low lying sites to wet for many other species. Important component of the wetland wild garden and for re-vegetating disturbed sites along river banks that benefit from extensive root stabilization of eroding banks..
Flower ColorYellow
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Fall ColorYellow
Companion PlantsClethra (Clethra); Red-Twig Dogwood (Cornus); Sweet Flag (Acorus); Dappled Willow (Salix integra); Water Iris (Iris ensata); Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra)
Care
Care InstructionsThrives in deep, loamy, moist but well-drained soil amended with sand or gravel, but highly adaptable. Water deeply, regularly in first few growing seasons to establish root system; once established tolerates mild drought, but reaches maximum growth in rich, fertile, evenly moist soils. Fertilize in early spring. Seldom requires pruning.
History
HistoryNamed for its habitat along the streams and rivers of eastern North America. Its range extends from Mass. to Florida, and Minnesota to Kansas. It was introduced to Britain by Peter Collinson who received seed or cuttings from John Bartram in the early 18th century.
LoreInfusions of the inner bark of river birch was used to treat a variety of ailments by many Native American tribes within its range.

About Us

We have been pioneers and craftsmen in the art of growing plants for nearly

100 years. Since our founding in Southern California by Harry E. Rosedale, Sr.
in 1926, we have been absolutely dedicated and obsessed with quality.

We have been pioneers and craftsmen in the art of growing plants for nearly 100 years. Since our founding in Southern California by Harry E. Rosedale, Sr. in 1926, we have been absolutely dedicated and obsessed with quality.