River Birch Tree
Betula nigra
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Deciduous Tree
Height at Maturity: 40-50′
Width at Maturity: 30-40′
Spacing: 15-20′ for privacy screens; 50 feet for space between trees
Spacing: 15-20′ for privacy screens; 50 feet for space between trees
Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Pyramidal – More rounded as a single-trunk tree
Growth Rate: Very Fast! Several feet per year
Flower Color: Produce brown catkins in spring
Flowering Period: Spring
Flower Type: Catkins
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Medium to Dark Green depending on soil pH
Fall Foliage Color: Yellow
Fall Foliage Color: Yellow
Fragrant Foliage: No
Bark Color: Salmon, Cream, and White shades
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun
Water Needs: Average, lower when established
Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt – Fertile
Soil Drainage: Well Drained Moist to Wet!
Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5
Maintenance / Care: Low
Attracts: Visual Attention, Birds
Resistances: Birch Borers, Deer, Disease, Heat, Humidity, Moderate Drought, Wet Soils
Description
The River Birch is a beautiful, fast-growing and very easy-to-grow North American native tree that thrives in sites with consistently moist soil. Perhaps its most appealing and outstanding feature is the highly attractive salmon and cream tones of the shedding bark that provides year-round interest in the landscape, especially during the winter. The light to dark green diamond-shape leaves are about 4 inches long and wide, turning a nice yellow in fall before dropping to expose the shedding bark. A graceful, soft-textured tree which deserves a spot in every landscape where it will grow. USDA Zones 4a-9b
Betula nigra is one of the most heat tolerant, disease-free, and insect resistant birches…much more heat tolerant than northern white birches, which don’t adapt well at all to the heat in the South. Extremely resistant to the bronze birch borer and has high resistance to leaf spot diseases.
NOTE: The River Birch trees we offer are multi-trunk.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing 40 to 50 feet tall and 30 to 40 feet wide, the River Birch tree is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings or in single or staggered rows to delineate a property line or line a driveway. River Birch will tolerate dry periods but thrives in a consistently moist soil, which makes it a fine candidate for low-lying areas or next to lakes, streams, rivers or other bodies of water. Perfect for use as a shade tree and when planted on the west side of the home cooling costs will be reduced. A fine addition to native plant gardens.
Suggested Spacing: 15 to 20 feet apart for screen plantings; 50 feet apart for space between trees
Growing Preferences
Being a North American native tree, the River Birch is exceptionally easy to grow in a variety of soil types, including clay, and likes full sun to light shade. “River” in the name lets us know that it likes a consistently moist soil. That said, trees will tolerate dry periods. Maintenance is minimal. Pruning isn’t necessary. That said, if you want to expose the trunk(s) lower branches can be removed to desired height. Avoid pruning in the spring when the tree is emerging from dormancy. Wait until May or June to prune.
Note: Find helpful advice from our experts under the Planting & Care tab above on desktop computer monitors or below on mobile devices.
Plant Long & Prosper!
Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff
Questions? Contact Us!
I am pleased with the great selection of plants as well as the quality.
They arrive within a few days after purchasing, packed well and ready to be planted. The customer service is excellent!——————————-Thanks for the photos. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
They arrive within a few days after purchasing, packed well and ready to be planted. The customer service is excellent!——————————-Thanks for the photos. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
This River Birch arrived in beautiful condition and was packed exceptionally well. I had corresponded with customer service my concerns about ordering a tree online and they reached out in a timely fashion. Since I just planted it a few weeks ago it seems to be doing fine. Cooler temperatures are arriving next week so i have high hopes for it next Spring. I hope Mother Nature will be kind to it over the winter. Thank You Wilson Bros. for a fine specimen.————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
This was a gift to a dear friend. She was thrilled.————————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope your friend enjoys it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG





















Reviews
There are no reviews yet.