River Birch (Betula nigra)

River Birch (Betula nigra) is a fast-growing native deciduous tree with salmon-pink to reddish-brown bark that peels to reveal lighter inner bark. Dark green, leathery, double-toothed leaves turn buttery yellow in fall.

Grow in rich, moist, acidic soil in full sun to part sun. Its distinctive bark provides interest even after the leaves drop.

Growing details

• Plant type: Deciduous tree
• Origin: Eastern North America, including Georgia
• Mature height: 30–60 feet
• Mature spread: 40–60 feet
• Spacing: Approximately 50 feet apart
• Hardiness: Listed USDA zones 4–7
• Light: Full sun to part sun
• Soil: Rich, moist and acidic; tolerates clay and poorly drained soil
• Bark: Peeling salmon-pink to reddish-brown layers with lighter inner bark
• Fall color: Buttery yellow

Care and garden use

Allow ample room for its mature canopy. Watch for aphids and leaf miners. High-pH soil can cause iron chlorosis. Monitor stressed trees for borer damage rather than assuming resistance means immunity.

Use as a specimen, in a grove, as a shade tree, or in woodland gardens, naturalized areas, native gardens, and plantings near wetlands or ponds. Companion options include sweetflag, buckeye, and tea berry where growing conditions suit each plant.

Image credits: SEWilco, River Birch Betula nigra, CC BY-SA 3.0; photo ©2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), River Birch Betula nigra Leaves 3008px, CC BY-SA 2.5; © Sue Sweeney, http://www.inmygarden.org/, Young river birch trunks, CC BY-SA 3.0; Bruce Marlin, Betula nigra, CC BY-SA 2.5. Plants naturally vary in appearance and may differ from the images shown.