TreeRM

River birch

Betula nigra 路 Betulaceae 路 also Red birch, Water birch

A fast-growing, usually multi-trunked tree (30-70 feet) with cinnamon-colored bark that peels in papery curls, the only birch that thrives in the hot, humid South. It needs steady moisture and acidic soil, so it is a natural along creeks and in rain gardens but suffers on Austin's dry, alkaline limestone, where it often turns yellow and declines.

Broadleaf, drops leavesFast growingSun or part shadeLikes water
River birch
Greg Hume, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where it stands

Native

  • 馃嚭馃嚫 United States 路 Also native in: CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, VT, WI, WV (USDA PLANTS distribution)source
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 AL, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 AR, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 FL, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 GA, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 LA, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 MS, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 NC, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 OK, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 SC, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 TN, United Statessource
  • 馃嚭馃嚫 TX, United States 路 Native to east Texas river bottoms; poorly suited to Central Texas alkaline soilssource

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist with soaker hoses and mulch, especially in summer. Prune only in summer after the sap stops flowing, never in late winter. Expect lots of small twig drop and some leaf shedding in drought. Resistant to bronze birch borer; aphids and leaf miners are minor. Treat chlorosis with iron if soil is alkaline, or choose a different tree.

Benefits

Fast canopyHolds soilFlood tolerantWildlifeBirdsFall color

Good for

StreambanksYard shadeparks

Watch out for

Heavy litterPest prone