Betula nigra - River Birch (Betulaceae) ------Betula nigra is a large, rapidly growing, Eastern U.S. USAGE native. River Birch is a fine-textured shade tree for dry Function or wet sites and is commonly produced in a multi- -specimen, focal point, or shade tree (casts a light to trunked form. It has a very attractive peach-colored medium shade) exfoliating bark and is one of the best and most rapidly Texture growing trees for both shade and ornamental bark. -fine texture in foliage and when bare -open to average density in foliage but thick density FEATURES when bare Form Assets -large deciduous tree -not subject to bronze birch borer problems as are most -maturing at 60' tall x 40' wide birches -upright oval growth habit for the -rapid growth rate species (but often sold in clump -wet or dry site tolerant and heat tolerant form of 3-5 trunks) -exfoliating flaky bark -rapid growth rate -shimmering bicolor summer foliage Culture -yellow autumn color in good years -full sun to partial sun -single trunk or clump forms -prefers moist, slightly acid soils (alkaline soils -dappled shade sometimes result in leaf chlorosis due to iron -symmetrical branching deficiency) but performs well in either wet or dry soils Liabilities -propagated primarily by rooted stem cuttings, but also -alkaline soils sometimes yield chlorotic foliage by seed -a few surface roots with -highly resistant to bronze birch borer (a potentially age devastating pest of the popular white-barked birches) but -overuse in the urban susceptible to leaf miners and aphids, especially when landscape may be under stress associated with increasing -abundant availability in B&B form problems such as attack -avoid pruning in spring unless sap bleeding from by aphids and leaf miners wounds will be tolerated Habitat Foliage -Zones 4 to 9 -alternate, ovate (broadly triangular), doubly serrated and -Native to Eastern and slightly incised Midwestern U.S. -medium to dark green upper sides and silvery-colored undersides SELECTIONS -autumn color - yellowish green in poor years, but Alternates golden-yellow to yellow-brown in good years -trees with distinct ornamental bark, or rapidly growing shade trees Cultivars - Variants - Related species -Betula nigra (PP4409) Heritage® ('Cully') - the popular cultivar of choice, with branches heavily exfoliating in the 2-6" diameter range to yield a cream-salmon- orange-gray combination of bark Flowers colors; an excellent Midwestern and -male catkins to 3" long in Apr.; female flowers Southern U.S. substitute for Paper inconspicuous Birch (Betula papyrifera) and other white-barked birches Fruits that often succumb to the bronze birch borer unless -resemble immature catkins, opening and shedding seeds annual preventive spray programs are implemented in spring -Betula nigra Fox Valley® ('Little King') - a dwarf Twigs selection; a low-branched, intermediate tree; good tree -red-brown, somewhat shiny, with cinnamon-colored, for small landscapes or a good shrub for commercial heavily-lenticeled branches exfoliating (peeling) to a sites (limited availability, e.g. Spring Meadow Nursery) brown-gray-light orange mixture on the species form -Betula nigra Tecumseh Compact™ - a Studebaker Trunk Nursery introduction; more compact form of B. nigra -very scaly to platy with a graceful pendulous branching habit (limited -gray-brown to almost black on the native species form, availability). with selected species forms having peach-purple-colored exfoliating (peeling) bark