Extra Information. Advertisement With a choice of 35 species globally, and many cultivars, there are options for both wet and dry soils. This habit might not please neighbors. River birch is perhaps the most culturally adaptable and heat tolerant of the birches. Medium to fast growth rate. River Birch Betula nigra Birch family (Betulaceae) Description: This tree is 40-90' at maturity, often forming a trunk that divides early and developing an irregular crown. Birch is a deciduous tree that reaches between 10 and 30 meters high, it is generally grown as an ornamental species for parks and gardens. not the best birch for fall color ; Flowers. River Birch in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/31/2020). Their foliage attracts deer and other wildlife foraging for food, as well. see more; Synonyms Betula rubra. This is the only birch native to lowland areas of the southeastern US, and it is typically found in wet areas such as floodplains of rivers and streams. Birches, including river birch, can be messy -- their male flowers are long, drooping catkins that drop through late spring and early summer. River Birch features subtle chartreuse catkins in early spring. Attractive salmon-pink to reddish-brown bark exfoliates to reveal lighter inner bark. River birch put out catkins in the spring which can remain until autumn, adding to the splendor of its yellow fall color. Consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist. The small but plentiful seeds are appreciated by a wide range of songbirds. There are many varieties of birch trees – paper, gray, yellow, river, and white birch – though the paper birch is perhaps the most distinctive, with its curling white bark. Depending on their cultivation, river birch trees grow either as single- or multi-stemmed trees. Identification Notes. Scientific Name Genus: Betula. Look for young twigs that are still attached to the tree or have very recently fallen, perhaps on a live branch that broke off in a wind storm. Single or multistem. River birch (Betula nigra): Sometimes called black birch, this species has a much darker trunk than the paper birch, but still has the characteristic flaky surface. Salmon-pink, smooth and shiny at first, the bark flakes and curls in cinnamon-brown to blackish sheets. Tiny monoecious (male and female) flowers appear in early spring in separate catkins on the same tree. Betula nigra, or River Birch, is a deciduous, upright, flowering tree with cinnamon brown, exfoliating bark and yellow fall foliage that tends to drop off the tree quickly. Dried River Birch Catkins . Leaves are bright and shiny green in spring and summer. Catkins on a river birch are 1.5 inches long. It is the only native birch that does well in low elevations of the south. zone 4; in the wild, limited to moist areas and is most commonly found along stream banks and areas that flood; Habit and Form . The pointy leaves turn an outstanding yellow in the fall. River birch is a medium-sized tree with an irregular, broad, spreading crown. Along with attractive yellow catkins, they emerge a vibrant lime green, heralding the start of spring, and darken as the season progresses. The catkins of the River Birch are used by redpolls and pine siskins. Native Habitat . The male and female flowers are produced individually in the form of Catkins and are produced around April and May. catkins ; male flowers are 2" to 3" in bloom, 0.75" prior to bloom ; female flowers are 1" to 1.5" long ; male catkins usually in 3's ; Fruit . River Birch in Howard Co., Maryland (1/25/2017). History/Lore River birch wood was once used for ox yokes, wooden shoes and other products around the farm. Vigorous and fast growing, this birch has a large, pyramidal, upright habit and bears diamond-shaped, glossy green leaves with silvery undersides, which turn yellow in fall. It can be planted as a stately, single specimen or in groups to … Dark green foliage turns a beautiful buttery yellow in the fall. The foliage is eaten by deer and other browsers. Photo by Jane Hill. Photo by Robert Ferraro. Foliage turns golden in fall. Paper Birch Catkins: Winged Nutlets & Bracts Dispersing. Leaves are alternate, simple, somewhat triangular to egg-shaped, 1½–3½ inches long, 1–2 inches wide; margins densely toothed; upper surface shiny dark green, lower surface whitish, very hairy. Adapts well to heavy clay soils of Missouri and will tolerate poor drainage. Betula occidentalis, the water birch or red birch, is a species of birch native to western North America, in Canada from Yukon east to western Ontario and southwards, and in the United States from eastern Washington east to western North Dakota, [citation needed] and south to eastern California, northern Arizona and northern New Mexico, and southwestern Alaska. It is the only Birch found a low altitudes in the southeastern United States. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding yellow in the fall. Family Betulaceae . River Birch (Betula nigra) Habitat. Betula nigra is an Iowa native. Growth Habit. The peeling brown bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest. The river birch produces separate male and female flowers in the form of catkins. River birch can grow as high as 90 feet. Female catkin of river birch. Also, a great enticement to songbirds are their small but plentiful seeds. Photo by Robert Ferraro. Grows best in medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. River birches are also resistant to bronze birch borer; other pest may cause minimal damage. They are wind and ice tolerant, adding to their value in the landscape. Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) produces separate male and female flowers on the same tree, both in the form of catkins (cylindrical clusters of flowers).The catkins form in the fall and overwinter in a dormant state. River Birch. Female catkins are smaller, short, bright green and erect. The small but plentiful seeds are appreciated by a wide range of songbirds. The Black Birch. Male flowers pendulous catkins, female flowers short, erect catkins, TIME OF YEAR: Different parts different times of the year. They are self-fertilizing and require only an individual specimen to produce seed. River Birch in Howard Co., Maryland (1/25/2017). River birches are available in single stem or the more attractive multi-stem forms. It also has a more intriguing, salmon-colored, bark. Birches make great trees for a medium-sized garden, With their attractive bark, light canopy and elegant catkins, birches make great trees for a medium-sized garden. The roots of River Birch are far reaching but are non-invasive. 'Heritage' is one of the most common varieties that grows faster, has larger, glossier leaves, and is more disease resistant than the straight species. ENVIRONMENT: Floodplains and wooded stream banks. River birch wood was once used for ox yokes, wooden shoes and other products around the farm. Leaves. Photo by Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org. Birch are available as single trunk trees or those with multi-trunks as clumps. The fruit is not ornamentally significant. River birch is a popular, fast-growing native tree for the home landscape. eastern US; zones 4-9. Oval to pyramidal when young becoming rounded to irregular with age. Birch twigs, leaves, and catkins. catkins of small nutlets ; Bark. Birch Tree Catkins, White Birch Catkins Showing Good Year, we have many images of Birch Trees It has dark green foliage throughout the season. River birches are monoecious (hermaphidilic) trees with brown hanging male catkins and green female flowers (erect catkins) that are produced in spring months April-May. Betula pendula, commonly called silver birch or European white birch, is a graceful medium-sized tree with slender pendulous branches and attractive bark. Male catkins of River Birch in Montgomery Co., Maryland (12/28/2014). Growing river birch . The River Birch is a large tree which is a welcome inclusion in planting schemes in which tree in wet or boggy ground when choice may otherwise be limited to utility trees with less ornamental qualities. It often has multiple trunks. The peeling brown bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest. This species is resistant to bronze birch borer (BBB). My father now uses, at his house in Oklahoma City, the rolled polymer gutter guards you unwind and fit into the gutters to block leaves. How to Grow Birch Trees. While thousands of seeds can be produced from a single tree, few will germinate. Better disease and insect resistance than other birch species; also very resistant to bronze birch borer. METHOD OF PREPARATION: Like all the other birches. Root System Of River Birch Tree. The trees are tolerant of excessive water but require full sun for proper growth. River birch tree catkins draw such songbirds as redpolls and pine siskins. Female flowers: erect catkins ½- to 1½-inch tall. River Birch Catkins . History/Lore. The foliage is eaten by deer and other browsers. Prefers moist, acidic, fertile soils including semi-aquatic conditions, but also tolerates drier soils. Male catkins are long and yellow-brown in colour, and hang in groups of two to four at the tips of shoots, like lambs' tails. The trunk bark of older mature trees is gray-brown and scaly, exfoliating only slightly, while the trunk bark of young trees exfoliates extensively, becoming ragged with patches of reddish brown, dull orange, or pinkish tan. Smooth in young trees, the bark gets rugged at the base in older trees. Landscape Attributes. It is a medium-sized tree often cultivated as an ornamental because of its shaggy, brownish, papery bark that peels in layers. The catkins of the River Birch are used by redpolls and pine siskins. On this occasion we will not dedicate the article to talk in general about birch tree, but we will focus on specifically covering two of the most popular varieties, the River Birch and the Silver Birch. Pollination results in the birch's fruit, small cones that are packed with hairy seeds. River Birch has dark green foliage throughout the season. The many varieties of river birch allow you to get the characteristics you prefer. River Birch is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Silver birch is monoecious, meaning both male and female flowers (catkins) are found on the same tree, from April to May. River birch leaves and female catkin in fall. It features subtle chartreuse catkins in early spring. Live twigs, fresh leaves, and even pollen catkins can be foraged from birches to make a peppery, minty tea rich in vitamin C. Your best bet for birch tea during the colder months is to forage twigs. Family Name: Betulaceae. 40-70' tall, 40-60' wide. Betula nigra (River Birch) is a bushy deciduous tree prized for its incredible peeling bark. Genus Betula can be deciduous trees or shrubs, usually colouring well in autumn and often with striking white, pink, or peeling brown bark; separate male and female catkins open before or with the leaves in spring . River Birch catkins in Harford Co., Maryland (4/26/2018). Photo by Josh Emm. River birch also has a good autumn colour in shades of buttery yellow. 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