River Birch Brings Gorgeous Winter Bark to the Winter Garden
River birch (Betula nigra) has exfoliating bark in colorful layers. Learn how to grow this native tree, plus good landscape cultivars.
River birch (Betula nigra) makes a beautiful scene in the winter garden because of its exfoliating bark that peels to reveal layers of browns, grays and creams. On younger trees, the bark often remains smooth but shows lovely shades of salmon, reddish brown or cinnamon. The bark begins to shed as the tree matures, revealing lighter colors beneath. Several cultivars of this species have been developed for garden use, including the petite Fox Valley ('Little King'), which tops out at 12 feet tall, and the rose-and-white-barked Heritage ('Cully').
Common names: River birch, red birch, water birch, black birch
Botanical name: Betula nigra
Origin: This birch species is native to much of the Eastern United States, from New England to northern Florida and west into Texas and the lower Midwest. Its natural habitat includes stream banks, swamps and areas prone to flooding.
Related: This species is a natural fit for a rain garden or bioswale. Read about rain gardens here.
Flowers: River birch is not grown for its flowers, but it does bloom in spring. Tiny greenish female catkins and slightly larger brownish male catkins appear on the same tree. Brown cone-like fruit develops from the female catkins in late spring to early summer. The flowers and fruits of river birch make it valuable to pollinators, birds and other wildlife.
Foliage: Leathery, oval-shaped, rich green leaves with serrated margins fill the arching branches. The foliage turns light yellow in fall, then quickly drops away.
Size and habit: River birch is a fast-growing tree that can be single or multistemmed. It typically reaches 40 to 70 feet in height with a 40- to 60-foot spread, although there are smaller cultivars, including the dwarf Fox Valley. Single-trunk trees develop a pyramidal habit that will mature into a more rounded form. Multi-trunk selections, considered more desirable for gardens, form a striking irregular crown.
Related: For a dramatic winter scene, pair river birch with weeping white spruce, 'Louie' white pine or dwarf hinoki cypress.
Growing river birch
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
How to grow it: River birches thrive in moist, acidic, fertile soils with a deep organic mulch to conserve moisture and keep the roots cool. They flourish in full sun to part shade with regular thorough watering. Established trees can tolerate drier soils, but growth will be best with more water, and dry spells can cause river birch to shed its leaves in summer. The midsize cultivar Dura Heat ('BNMTF') is known to tolerate heat and drought better than most. USDA Zones 4–9.
