Rain Garden Plants: River Birch

River birch (Betula nigra) is a fast-growing, medium to tall tree. It has symmetrical branching with a pyramidal to oval form. It may have a single trunk or multiple trunks. The attractive bark peels in curly, paper-like sheets, making it stand out in the winter. The bark varies in color from silver-gray to pinkish-brown. Mature trees have scaly reddish-brown to black bark. Its slender branches are reddish-brown with many white lenticels (raised pores on the stem). The simple, alternate leaves have double-toothed margins. They are darker green above and silver-gray underneath. Leaves turn yellow in autumn. River birch is a larval host plant for mourning cloak butterflies. It is intolerant to drought and does not like hot, dry summers. Small twigs shaded in the canopy will often be shed during the year.

Height: 40 to 70 feet
Bloom color: Catkins are brown (male) and green (female)
Bloom time: April/May
Hardiness zone: 4 to 9
Salt tolerance: Moderately tolerant of salt spray and soil salt

Site Conditions

Sun: Sun/partial shade
Soil: Acidic, moist, well-drained, wet
Hydrologic zones: Wet/moist

Sources

Missouri Botanical Garden

The Morton Arboretum

Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension, University of Wisconsin–Madison: River Birch

Prepared by Jodi Sulpizio, Beth Yount, Vincent Cotrone, Constance Schmotzer, and Jessica Chou.
Finalized by Jodi Sulpizio.