Betula nigra

Scientific Name: Betula nigra

Common Name: river birch

Native Range: Eastern United States

Zone: 4 to 9

Plant type & Form: Deciduous tree that can be single or multi-stemmed; when young the tree has an oval/pyramidal shape and when mature can have a round or irregular form

Height: 40.00 to 70.00 feet

Spread: 40.00 to 60.00 feet

Bloom Time: April – May

Bloom Description: Brown (male) green (female)

Flower: Drooping brown catkins (male) and smaller, upright green catkins (female)

Fruit: Catkins of small nutlets

Leaf: Leathery, diamond-shaped, medium to dark green leaves (1.5-3.5″ long) with doubly toothed margins; leaves turn yellow in the fall

Sun: Full sun to part shade

Water: Medium to wet

Soil type & pH: Prefers moist, acidic, fertile soils and can tolerate semi-aquatic conditions

Maintenance: Low

Suggested Use: Shade tree, rain garden, winter interest

Tolerates: Deer, drought, clay soil, wet soil, black walnut, air pollution

Notes: This river birch is more culturally adaptable and heat tolerant than other birches

Identification notes: This tree grows on floodplains, swampy bottomlands, and along streams where there are wet soils. Look for reddish brown bark that exfoliates to show a lighter inner bark. The relatively small, toothed leaves create dappled lighting. This tree is usually multi-stemmed.