River Birch

Tagged as: Salt-Tolerant Trees and Shrubs, Plants Tolerant of Wet Sites, Native Trees, Large Deciduous Trees, Butterflies, Black walnut toxicity tolerant, birds, Four Season Landscape

Botanical Name: Betula nigra
Common Name: River Birch*

Updated  2/2012

Click on an image to enlarge.

Form	Winter form

Leaf	Bark

Height: 40-70' Spread: 40-60' Habit/Form: Pyramidal to rounded Growth Rate: Medium/Fast Zone: 3-9

Cultural Requirements: Full sun to part shade; moist to well-drained acidic soil, develops iron chlorosis in high pH; tolerant of temporary flooding; benefits with a 3 to 4 inch layer of mulch and supplemental water in dry periods.

Ornamental Characteristics: Attractive cinnamon-colored peeling bark adds winter interest; dark green leaves turn yellow in fall

Use in the Landscape: Native to Midwest; handsome specimen tree

Butterfly Caterpillar/larval Host: Tiger Swallowtail, Mourning Cloak, Compton Tortoiseshell

Nectar Source/Butterflies Attracted: Northern Pearly Eye (sap)

Birds Attracted: Pine siskin, great blue heron, goldfinch, scarlet tanager, grosbeaks, blue jay, sapsuckers, warblers, and many others

Plant Appeal for Birds: Seeds that ripen in October- November and persist through winter; insects on leaves; shelter; nesting site; sap

Aerial Salt Tolerance: Moderate degree of salt tolerance. Use in low salt areas.

Plant tolerant of flooded areas for extended periods of time.

Native to Illinois

Print

Related Articles

• Hackberry 62%

  Published in ArrayTrees and Shrubs That Attract Birds, Salt-Tolerant Trees and Shrubs, Plants Tolerant of Wet Sites, Native Trees, Butterflies, birds
  Botanical Name: Celtis occidentalis Common Name: Hackberry Updated 2/2012 Click on an image to enlarge Winter form Leaf bark form Height: 40-60' Spread: 40-60' Habit/Form: Pyramidal in youth changing...

• Summersweet Clethra 49%

  Published in Four Season Landscape, Butterflies, Intermediate Sized, Plants for Shady Sites, Plants Tolerant of Wet Sites, Salt-Tolerant Trees and Shrubs, Summer-Flowering Trees & Shrubs, Trees and Shrubs That Attract Birds
  Botanical Name: Clethra alnifolia Common Name: Summersweet Clethra Updated 3/2012 form flower Fall leaves Click on image to enlarge.Height:  6-8'  Spread:  4-6'  Habit/Form:  Oval to...

• Sycamore 49%

  Published in Salt-Tolerant Trees and Shrubs, Black walnut toxicity tolerant, Native Trees, not favored by deer, Plants Tolerant of Wet Sites
  Botanical Name: Platanus occidentalisCommon Name: Sycamore Updated 11/2012 Click on an image to enlarge form leaf in winter Height: 75-100'  Spread: 50-75'  Form: Irregular spreading  Growth Rate: Medium...

• Tulip-tree 49%

  Published in Black walnut toxicity tolerant, Butterflies, Native Trees, not favored by deer, Plants Tolerant of Wet Sites
  Botanical name: Liriodendron tulipiferaCommon Name: Tulip-tree Updated 10/2012 Click on an image to enlarge form flowers fall color Height: 70-90'  Spread: 25-30'  Habit/Form: Rounded to oval  Growth rate:...

• Sweet-Gum 49%

  Published in Plants Tolerant of Wet Sites, not favored by deer, Native Trees, Black walnut toxicity tolerant, Salt-Tolerant Trees and Shrubs
  Botanical Name: Liquidambar styracifluaCommon Name: Sweet-Gum Updated 10/2012 Click on an image to enlarge leaves fall color fruits   Height: 60-70'  Spread: 30-45'  Habit/Form: Pyramidal to rounded ...

• Sugar Maple 37%

  Published in Native Trees, Black walnut toxicity tolerant, Large Deciduous Trees
  Botanical Name: Acer saccharumCommon Name: Sugar Maple  Updated 1/2012 Click on an image to enlarge fall color form fruits fall color Height: 60-70' Spread: 40-50' Habit/Form: Upright oval to...