Melinda Myers

River Birch

Botanical Name

Betula nigra

Hardiness

Zones 3b to 9

Height

40 to 70 feet

Width

40 to 60 feet

Flowers

Catkins

Fruit

Nutlets born on 1 to 1.5" catkins

Fall Color

Yellow

Light

Full sun

Soil

Moist, acidic

Planting & Care

• Transplant as balled and burlap
• Does well in areas that are prone to temporary flooding
• Avoid pruning in spring to prevent bleeding
• Borer resistant
• Moderately salt tolerant

Problems

Chlorotic in alkaline soils, leaf miner, leaf spot

Varieties

• Graceful Arms - semi-weeping form
• Cully - salmon bark that resists turning grey and furrowed with age
• Little King - compact, dense branching, 10x12'