Botanical Name BETULA NIGRA
PRONUNCIATION BET - you - lah NY - grah
Common Name River Birch
Family BETULACEAE
Life Cycle Deciduous perennial
Tree, standard or multi-trunked Growth Habit Tree, standard or multi-trunked
Plant HEIGHT 40 -50’ WIDTH 40 - 60’ UPRIGHT
ARRANGEMENT ALTERNATE
Leaf Elliptical Length 3” to 5” Width 1 1/2” to 3”
Margin SERRATED
Veins PINNATE
COMPOSITION SIMPLE
Flower MONECIOUS Catkin
Fruit Spring Small cone
Exposure PART SHADE
Growth RAPID
Use SPECIMEN
Description On branches 2” or more, bark exfoliates into papery plates exposing the inner bark
Description Leaves have sharpe tips Cultivars: ‘Heritage’ has larger leaves and tan bark
Cultural Practices Likes moist soils
Problems May get too large for landscape space
Zones 4 - 8
Native of Eastern USA