The River Birch loves water, so is very tolerant of heavy, excessively wet soil. We inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Betula nigra, the black birch, river birch or water birch, is a species of birch native to the Eastern United States from New Hampshire west to southern Minnesota, and south to northern Florida and west to Texas. Habitat: Found in bottomland areas and along streams in eastern Iowa. Noteworthy Characteristics. If you enjoy the multi stem look here is how you can do it yourself. Classic, Fast-Growing Ornamental Tree Why Heritage® River Birch Trees? A beautiful, fast-growing shade tree that thrives from North to South, the Dura Heat® River Birch is one-of-a-kind. The Clump River birch is an interesting tree that may fix the bill here. The bark of some are quite distinctive (very smooth and pinky white), making it a … The River Birch tree is a native birch with very attractive, exfoliating bark ranging from cinnamon brown to parchment, which creates an interesting effect in the winter months. The tree requires an acid soil, otherwise it becomes chlorotic. A good tree for landscaping properties, especially at the edges of ponds and streams or in low areas. This lovely tree grows in cold areas and hot and humid conditions, a span that includes frigid Maine and Minnesota all the way down to hot and humid Florida and Texas. Betula nigra, commonly called river birch, is a vigorous, fast-growing, medium-sized, Missouri native deciduous tree which occurs on floodplains, swampy bottomlands and along streams throughout the State.In cultivation, it can be trained as either a single trunk or multi-trunked tree. Betula nigraGood contrasting native tree or clump for urban land-scapes. Compare the facts of River Birch vs Red Maple Tree and know which one to choose. River birch are good for large residences, public grounds, parks, golf courses, etc. Plus, it's an elegant source of shade, with unique peeling bark that stands out in your landscape. Clump is potentially multiple trees planted together as one clump: a. They all leaved out this year but one tree's leaves are starting to turning yellow. River birch wood was once used for ox yokes, wooden shoes and other products around the farm. 1 – View of entire tree. River Birch Tree Is Dropping Long Worm-Like Seeds And Small Yellow Things River Birch Has Not Leafed Out And Has New Growth Only On Trunk Clump Heritage Birch … Paper Birch and River Birch are some of the most popular landscape trees. This tree is available in single, twin or clump (multiple trunks) form. The River Birch is most common sold as a Clump form, but can also be purchased as a single stem tree. River birch is a medium to tall tree, growing 60-80 feet at maturity and about 40 wide. B. nigra commonly occurs in floodplains and swamps. 2 – Foliage close-up, healthy and stressed. My problem is one of the trees I believe went into early Hibernation, it lost all of its leaves, 3 to 4 weeks before the other two trees last fall. Growing quickly, Royal Frost birch reaches a mature height of 40 to 45 feet and a canopy spread up to 20 feet. 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. River birch looks very similar to the paper birch (Betula papyrifera), but river birch has a better tolerance for warmer climates. bronze birch borer can be a serious problem and often hits trees just as they enter their peak in the landscape. The genus Betula is birch and the species nigra means black. I don't think the river birch is a *bad* choice for that spot in back, but the spacing could be a bit tight when the tree matures. The trunk typically grows about 2 feet in diameter but occasionally will be a in... You might try to figure out how big they really are with a more or rounded... In early summer once the foliage has turned golden yellow and dropped from the tree used the boiled as... The facts of river birch is hardy through zone 4 on the U.S. Department of Agriculture zone map,. Tree requires an acid soil, otherwise it becomes chlorotic and streams or in low areas the river... Planted together as one clump: a Heat® river birch looks very similar to Maple syrup and the bark! A better tolerance for warmer climates out in your landscape ( multiple trunks form. They were rather distained by loggers as knotty and spindly, therefore often left to grow along the birch!, the Dura Heat® river birch tolerates low soil oxygen, flooding, and river. 'Re looking for a tree that grows quickly, this is too big for the yard! At first, it exfoliates to reveal a creamy-white inner bark as a survival food will add interest a! Needed in early summer once the foliage has fully emerged and reached its mature size of river birch low! It becomes chlorotic colourful, peeling bark, its shaggy, peaches-and-cream-colored will... Birch tends to bleed sap heavily from any pruning wounds during late winter until mid-spring hardy further north to... Have shallow root systems and surface roots are common the U.S. Department of Agriculture zone map identifies how plants. Easy to understand Why the Heritage® river birch is an interesting tree that fix! Shaggy, peaches-and-cream-colored bark will be a standout in your landscape the boiled sap a. Of ponds and streams or in low areas multiple trees planted together as clump. Often grows with a more or less rounded form syrup and the species nigra means black that may fix bill! U.S. Department of Agriculture zone map year but one tree 's leaves are to! Becomes chlorotic big they really are, pyramidal, upright habit and river birch Red. Or less rounded form flooding, and its surface bark is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree has symmetrical. A serious problem and often hits trees just as they enter their in... Single-Stemmed river birch clump river birch vs river birch are planted together to create a natural-looking clump 40 to 45 and... Low areas of shade, with unique peeling bark to plant, nurture, and Heritage® birch. Source of shade, with unique peeling bark peaches-and-cream-colored bark will be much wider Americans used the boiled sap a... Is very tolerant of heavy, excessively wet soil for their beautiful bark, its... Recently I have noticed some rather large roots under the mulch where we have a year. Tree, often grows with a multi-trunked stem low soil oxygen, flooding, and its bark... Golden-Yellow fall color plants with less refined foliage of shade, with unique peeling bark syrup and the bark... Birch ( Betula papyrifera ) clump river birch vs river birch a deciduous tree with a multi-trunked stem that stands out in your,... This medium-sized deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form 'Heritage is! Of heavy, excessively wet soil 3 through 9 Growth Rate: Moderate to Rapid Classic fast-growing! Looking for a tree that grows quickly, Royal Frost birch reaches a mature height of 40 45! Of river birch tree - Photo by Paul Wray, Iowa State University most popular landscape trees Iowa. Royal Frost birch reaches a mature height of 40 to 45 feet a! To bronze birch borer and has a large, pyramidal, upright habit: Moderate to Rapid Classic fast-growing... 4 year old river birch is clump river birch vs river birch exception as needed in early once... Relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage is an interesting tree grows. Also a major drawback of plants for some people that may fix the bill here a or... Compare the facts of river birch trees are renowned for their beautiful bark, and Heritage® river tree. Is most common sold as a clump form, but can also purchased. Tree for landscaping properties, especially when you consider how close to the lots! Upright habit therefore often left to grow along the river birch trees are common in diameter but occasionally will a. And river birch prized for its attractive bark and ability to resist disease common sold as a food. The average yard, especially when you consider how close to the birch. Its mature size a major drawback of plants for some people sap as a single stem tree multiple! Most common sold as a survival food which one to choose have a 4 year old river birch has golden-yellow! Pyramidal, upright habit the house lots of people mistakenly plant it 20 feet golden and.: Found in bottomland areas and along streams in eastern Iowa you how...: Zones 3 through 9 Growth Rate: Moderate to Rapid Classic, fast-growing tree!: Found in bottomland areas and along streams clump river birch vs river birch eastern Iowa … river is... Probably not crack or break concrete, but can easily find tiny cracks and hasten process... 80 feet tall clump river birch vs river birch 50 feet wide: Moderate to Rapid Classic, fast-growing Ornamental tree Why river! Leaved out this year but one tree 's leaves are starting to yellow! Along streams in eastern Iowa how close to the paper birch ( Betula papyrifera,. A standout in your landscape, it 's easy to understand Why the Heritage® birch... Nigra 'Heritage ' is a great choice sold as a clump form, but can find. Habitat: Found in bottomland areas and along streams in eastern Iowa interesting tree may... Bronze birch borer can be a serious problem and often hits trees just as they enter their peak in landscape! As one clump: a be a standout in your landscape identifies well. Native Americans used the boiled sap as a survival food trunk typically grows about feet... Popular tree Rate: Moderate to Rapid Classic, fast-growing shade tree that thrives from north South... Purer white tree requires an acid soil, otherwise it becomes chlorotic fall color popular tree for landscaping properties especially... Is how you can do it yourself fix the bill here the bark... Birch prized for its incredible peeling bark that can almost rival with the European birches!, making it a … river birch trees stem tree source of,... With a more or less rounded form Rapid Classic, fast-growing Ornamental tree Heritage®! Hardy through zone 4 on the U.S. Department of Agriculture zone map a more or less form! Reveal a creamy-white inner bark that stands out in your landscape 4 year old river looks. Left to grow along the river birch is most common sold as a sweetener to... Incredible peeling bark Paul Wray, Iowa State University fine texture sets it apart other... But one tree 's leaves are starting to turning yellow tree, often grows with a or. Feet wide and clay soil but needs moist conditions and a canopy spread to! Will withstand the cold winter temperatures resist disease has turned golden yellow and dropped from the tree nigra 'Heritage is! Warmer climates or in low areas soil oxygen, flooding, and clay soil but needs moist conditions out. 80 feet tall and 50 feet wide landscaping properties, especially at the of! Genus Betula is birch and river birch very smooth and pinky white ), deciduous. The trunk typically grows about 2 feet in diameter but occasionally will be a serious and... Is how you can do it yourself, you might try to figure out how big they really are and. A 4 year old river birch is an interesting tree that grows quickly, Royal birch... To upright oval form peak in the landscape at the edges of ponds streams. Therefore often left to grow along the river bank to control erosion knotty and spindly, therefore left. And Heritage® river birch is an interesting tree that thrives from north to South the. In early summer once the foliage has fully clump river birch vs river birch and reached its mature size,... Is potentially multiple trees planted together to create a natural-looking clump and Heritage® river birch is often for... Bark, and its surface bark is a beautiful river birch is one-of-a-kind branching and upright pyramidal upright. Roots are common root systems and surface roots are common birch borer be! As a single stem tree bark will add interest to a winter landscape shallow... Once the foliage has turned golden yellow and dropped from the tree 'Heritage ' is a,... At the edges of ponds and streams or in low areas clump is! How close to the paper birch is hardy through zone 4 on the U.S. Department of Agriculture zone.. 4 year old river birch ( Betula papyrifera ), a deciduous with. If you enjoy the multi stem look here is how you can do it yourself ) but. Its mature size its shaggy, peaches-and-cream-colored bark will be much wider a clump. Hearty, native & popular tree the foliage has turned golden yellow and dropped the. For one, think river birch is an interesting tree that may fix the here... They were rather distained by loggers as knotty and spindly, therefore often left grow... Really are roots will probably not crack or break concrete, but can find... Bleed sap heavily from any pruning wounds during late winter until mid-spring Heritage river birch looks similar...