River Birch
Betula nigra · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Betulaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Ornamental, Street Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Typically species type or popular cultivar like 'Dura-Heat'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9.
About This Tree
A medium-sized deciduous tree often featuring multiple trunks and an irregular, pyramidal to rounded crown. Known for its distinctive exfoliating bark and graceful arching branches.
Leaf Characteristics
Alternate, simple, ovate to rhombic leaves, 1.5 to 3 inches long with doubly serrate margins and acute tips. Medium green above, lighter and sometimes pubescent below, turning yellow in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Exfoliating papery bark peeling in curls to reveal rich layers of cinnamon-brown, reddish-brown, or creamy white inner bark, becoming deeply furrowed and darker gray-brown at the base with age.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the eastern United States, commonly found along riverbanks, floodplains, and wet lowlands.
Growing Season
Spring leaf-out with catkins appearing early, dropping small winged nutlets in late spring/early summer, going dormant in late autumn.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade. Prefers consistently moist to wet soils, though established trees possess moderate drought tolerance.
Mature Size
Reaches a mature height of 40 to 70 feet with an equal or slightly lesser spread. Fast growth rate, with a typical lifespan of 40 to 70 years.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional heat tolerance compared to other birches, highly resistant to bronze birch borer, exhibits good wet soil tolerance, and provides striking ornamental winter interest via its peeling colorful bark.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides seeds consumed by various songbirds and small mammals. Catkins serve as an early food source for pollinators, and the dense branching offers nesting sites for birds.