River Birch (Black Birch or Red Birch)
Betula nigra (BETULACEAE)
Planting and Growing River Birch
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow river birch (black birch or red birch) trees in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Foliage, catkins, cones and seeds of river birch, black birch, or red birch trees
- Growing conditions for river birch (black birch or red birch)
- When to plant river birch (black birch or red birch)
- How to plant river birch (black birch or red birch)
- How to prune river birch (black birch or red birch)
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of river birch (black birch or red birch)
- Landscape uses of river birch (black birch or red birch)
- Pest and disease control for river birch (black birch or red birch)
Growing River Birch Trees
Many cultivars of graceful, fast-growing, upright, open, deciduous trees, to 100 ft. (30 m) tall, with light green, oval or diamond-shaped, toothed leaves, to 3 in. (75 mm) long, with white undersides, turning gold in autumn, and with red, white, flaking, paperlike bark.
B. nigra ‘Heritage’, or Heritage River birch, is a popular cultivar with pink-tinted bark.
River Birch Planting and Care Guide
Catkins, Cones, and Seeds
Willowlike male and female catkins, to 1-1/2 in. (38 mm) long, in autumn, form brown cones on female trees, to 1 in. (25 mm) long, the following summer.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 4–7.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Rich–average. 5.5–6.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full to filtered sun. Space 20–25 ft. (6–7.5 m) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist. Prune in late spring. Propagate by cuttings, layering, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for margins, moist areas in landscapes and water features. Tolerates occasional drought. Seed attracts birds in winter. Somewhat invasive. Shallow rooted. Aphid, birch leaf miner susceptible.
Common Species and Varieties of Birch
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- Betula albo-sinensis, Chinese paper birch
- Betula alleghaniensis, yellow birch
- Betula davurica, Dahurian birch
- Betula jacquemontii, Indian birch
- Betula lenta, sweet birch
- Betula maximowicziana, monarch birch
- Betula nana, dwarf arctic birch
- B. nigra, river birch
- Betula occidentalis, water birch
- Betula papyrifera, canoe birch
- Betula pendula, weeping birch
- Betula platyphylla japonica, Japanese birch
- Betula platyphylla szechuanica, Chinese birch
- Betula populifolia, gray birch
About Birch Trees
The Betula genus includes nearly 60 species of graceful, open, broad-leaved, deciduous trees, many with narrow, erect habits and often thin, nodding or weeping branches.
All birch species are native to the northern hemisphere’s temperate zones and are found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. All are hardy and grow best in cold-winter climates.
Birches are prized for their dainty foliage and showy bark. Their leaves emerge bronze, light green, or maroon, become deep green above and silver gray beneath, and turn golden yellow in autumn. Marked and patterned, birch bark is attractively colored in hues from reddish brown to icy silver. Cultivars have been developed with dramatic foliage colors.
Birch are fast-growing, short-lived trees that reach 25–90 ft. (7.5–27 m) tall. A species or cultivar exists for nearly every garden need throughout their climate range.
They are susceptible to birch leaf miner, a pest that causes leaves to turn yellow and prematurely drop, as well as aphid, borers, sawfly, and gypsy moth. Nectaria canker can infect their bark.
Choose from among the popularly cultivated species above.
Planting and Caring for Birch Trees
Birch trees are popular in landscape gardens as ornamental trees that rapidly fill small-space areas, create island plantings in a natural grass planting or manicured lawn, or provide a seasonal screen.
They are broad-leaved, deciduous, and appear constantly in motion due to their long-stemmed leaves which wave and quiver in any breeze. Birches grow in a variety of forms, from those with single, narrow trunks to multitrunked, nearly vining species that retain a shrublike character. They are good trees for coppicing in natural landscapes along streams.
Plant birch trees in moderately rich, moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. Since all landscape trees grow best when planted in unamended soil, test the acid-alkaline balance of your site before you plant. Birches should have soils in the 6.0–7.0 pH range. Choose from those species that fit your climate and site.
When planting a birch, carefully match the depth of the hole to the soil line on the rootball of your tree, taking care to avoid too-deep planting. Backfill around the rootball with native soil and keep the tree well watered until it becomes established and begins to spurt new growth.
Birches are a good choice for seasonal shade and bright autumn foliage color in cold-winter climates, though many species perform well in a variety of conditions. Their care needs include regular raking of fallen catkinlike flowers in spring and leaves in autumn. Birds find their seed attractive during winter.
Small birches are good container trees suited to use on balconies, decks, and patios. Keep birches grown in planters or large containers evenly moist, fertilize them regularly to replace leached nutrients, and protect their roots from sun exposure.