Betula nigra

• BOTANICAL NAME: Betula nigra
• PRONUNCIATION: BET-u-la NI-gra
• COMMON NAME: Red or River Birch
• FAMILY: Betulaceae
• NATIVITY: Eastern North America; found along streams and rivers of southern coastal plain where it is the only birch found there.
• GROWTH HABIT: Pyramidal when young, rounded when mature, multitrunked, low-branched; 40'-70' (90') tall. Can average 2' growth per year. Medium to fast growth rate.
• HARDINESS: Zone 4-9
• CULTURE: Moist, rich, acid soil, but adaptable to soil moisture. Heat tolerant.
• LANDSCAPE USE: An outstanding native tree with attractive ornamental bark.
• FOLIAGE: Alternate, simple, 1 ½" - 3 ½" long, ovate, acuminate, serrate margin. Sometimes has shallow lobes.
• BUDS: Small, less than 1/5" long, chestnut-brown. Male catkins present fall to spring (all Betula), borne in 2's and 3's; 2"-3" long.
• BARK: Exfoliating; gray-brown to ivory or copper-colored.
• FRUIT: Small nutlet borne in catkins.
• PROPAGATION: Easy from seed or cuttings.
• PESTS: Leaf miner; considered borer-resistant.
• CULTIVARS:
  • `Heritage' - Leathery dark-green leaves and salmon-white bark. Vigorous.