River Birch is a popular fast-growing native deciduous tree with attractive salmon-pink to reddish-brown bark that exfoliates to reveal lighter inner bark. It’s dark green leathery double-toothed leaves turn buttery yellow in fall. Grows best in rich, moist acidic soils. River Birch is resistant to bronze birch borer.
Type: |
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Origins: |
Eastern N. America; GA Native |
Height: |
30’ - 60’ |
Spread: |
40’ - 60’ |
Spacing: |
50’ |
USDA Hardiness Zone: |
4 - 7 |
Culture: |
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Bloom Color: |
Brown |
Season of Interest: |
MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low maintenance. It can take clay and poorly drained soils. Weakened birches are vulnerable to the bronze birch borer which can be fatal Some susceptibility to aphids, leaf miner and iron chlorosis in high pH soils.
LANDSCAPE USES: Specimen planting or Grove, Wetlands and ponds, Woodland Garden, Naturalized Areas, Native Garden, and Shade Tree.
IMAGES: SEWilco, River Birch Betula nigra, CC BY-SA 3.0, (2) Photo (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), River Birch Betula nigra Leaves 3008px, CC BY-SA 2.5, (3) © Sue Sweeney, Young river birch trunks, CC BY-SA 3.0, (4) Bruce Marlin, Betula nigra, CC BY-SA 2.5
*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.