Common Name: River Birch
Scientific Name: Betula nigra
Order: Fagales
Family: Betulaceae
Wetland Plant Status: Facultative
Ecology & Description River birch, also known as black birch, red birch, and water birch, is a tree which bears green, simple leaves with serrated leaf margins that alternately grow along the branches. River birch produces a very small brown flower, and it also produces a small brown winged type fruit. However, the most prominent and recognizable characteristic of the tree is its bark. The tree has an exfoliating bark that exposes the various layers with different colors such as gray, brown, white, and copper. River birch is a rapid growing, short-lived perennial tree species that actively grows during the spring and summer months of the year. It typically grows 1.5-3 feet annually with mature trees reaching as much as 70 feet in height and 30 inches in diameter. River birch is economically beneficial in several different ways. The wood from the tree can be made into various products such as furniture, wicker products, and even wooden shoes. An alcoholic beverage known as birch beer can also be produced from fermenting sap collected from the tree. The leaves of the tree even provide some medicinal benefits. The leaves have been known to be useful in treating dysentery. River birch is commonly used for soil conservation efforts. Because of its adaptations for moisture rich environments, river birch is often intentionally planted in areas prone to erosion, where it can help reduce the erosion of the soil. River birch is commonly planted along stream banks, along with companion species, to create stream buffer areas to help reduce the erosion of the banks of the waterway. River birch has also been known to aid in the protection of water quality.
Habitat River birch can be found some distance away from large water features but is most frequently found in wetland areas. It can most often be found naturally growing along stream banks and in other areas with moist to wet soil conditions. It is adapted to growth in coarse, medium, and fine textured soils of varying moisture quantities. It is also a shade intolerant species, so, in addition to a close proximity to water and/or moist soil conditions, it also requires large amounts of sunlight with very little shade.
Distribution River birch can be found throughout much of the continental United States with the exception of the arid climate states in the west. Its growth range spans from as far north as Minnesota and south to Florida with the east/west boundaries of its growth range spanning from the Atlantic coast in the east to Texas and Kansas in the west. The only areas within this range that the trees are not present is the southern portion of the Mississippi flood plain, the southernmost regions of the Gulf Coastal plain, the rocky terrain of the Appalachians, and the limestone rich areas in Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Native/Invasive Status River birch is native to regions in Northern Minnesota all the way to Southern Florida. Its growth range also extends from the Atlantic Coast to Eastern Texas and Western Kansas.
Wildlife Uses River birch provides a moderate amount of uses for wildlife species. The small seedlings and sprouts can be beneficial different species. Animals have been known to eat the seeds as well as the leaves of the tree. Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and grouse (subfamily Tetraoninae) primarily eat the seeds, while the leaves are eaten by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).
Management Techniques When establishing river birch, it is important to control the weeds to minimize competition for resources. Grasses especially can outgrow and outcompete young river birch trees. Herbicides or weed control fabric are two ways to do this. Selected herbicides, however, should not be damaging to the trees. Use of weed control fabric can be more cost effective than herbicides, and it can be used in conjunction References Dickerson, J. and L. Moore. 2006. River Birch Plant Fact Sheet. United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. Online.
This document was authored by Christopher Olvey, School of Forestry, Louisiana Tech University, April 2015.