what does river birch tree look like

How do you identify a river birch tree?

The branches of river birch are smooth with many lenticels (L), but the trunk and older branches are scaly or peeling (C and R), with variable color. The leaves are diamond-shaped. The leaves are typical of a birch – alternate, diamond-shaped, with a doubly serrated margin.

Is river birch a messy tree?

River Birch This is a beautiful tree with attractive bark, but it has messy catkins in the spring and likes to drop sticks—and we mean a lot of sticks! —every time the wind blows.

Is river birch a good tree?

It is an excellent tree as its roots do a great job holding shorelines together, helping to prevent erosion. It is hardy, growing in zones 4-9. The river birch has a geographical range bigger than any birch in the states. It adapts well to hot climates and is the only birch found in southern states.

Where do river birch trees grow best?

Although river birch grows well in normal and dry soils, it thrives in wet environments. If there is a poorly drained, low lying area of the yard where other shade trees have suffered, that is the perfect spot to plant a river birch.

What is the lifespan of a river birch tree?

Any pruning should be done during dormancy, and not when the sap is flowing. This native birch grows at a medium to fast rate with a lifespan up to 75 years.

Are river birch roots invasive?

The roots of River Birch are not a threat to the nearby foundations as they're not invasive. But they are extremely absorptive notably near the surface, therefore, they restrict the plants to grow near the base of the River Birch tree. The roots require acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained, wet and clay soils.

How long does it take for river birch to reach full height?

The medium to fast growth rate of river birch trees means they can reach 30 to 40 feet in 20 years, according to the University of Kentucky Department of Horticulture. River birch trees grow fast in moist, warm areas and less vigorously in urban environments.

Why are river birch trees planted in threes?

The thinking behind multistem birches is that since the bark is one of their most attractive features, the more stems and therefore bark, the better.

Should river birch trees be trimmed?

Annual pruning promotes healthy and attractive growth. The best times to prune river birch are during late spring, late fall and winter. Pruning in the spring before the first leaves emerge will cause the tree to lose sap, and fresh pruning cuts can attract birch borers in the summer.

Are birch trees good for backyards?

Birch trees are prized for their distinctive looks, and captivating beauty through all the seasons, and are a very fast-growing tree. They grow great in nearly all types of soil conditions with the proper care, meaning you can enjoy that papery magnificence all year round in your yard and property.

Can I plant birch tree near house?

Silver birches are among the best trees for small gardens since they never produce too dense a canopy and their root systems are unlikely to shift foundations. That said, always make sure they are planted at least 10 feet from the house.

Are river birch trees toxic to dogs?

According to ASPCA, birch trees can be toxic for your dog.

How messy are birch trees?

Birch Trees Produce SO MUCH SAP Open wounds on the tree can lead to a heavy flow of this sap that can cause some secondary concerns such as attracting bugs and making it messy to clean up. Birch trees' continuous seeping of the sap creates a sticky situation that landowners may come to see as quite a pain.

What is the least messy tree?

The Least Messy Trees for your YardArborvitae. Arborvitae is an evergreen that comes in several varieties. ... Flowering Dogwood. There are numerous types of dogwood trees, and the flowering variety is one commonly seen in gardens and landscapes, for good reason—it is attractive year-round. ... Spruce. ... Maple. ... What to Avoid.

Do river birch trees drip sap?

A: River birch tree sap is known to cause babies to be born naked and to make your hair turn gray when you're old. Other than that, the sap that is dripping from the cut branches is harmless. Maple and birch trees are famous for the copious amounts of sap they bleed after being pruned in late winter.

Why Does My river birch drop so many branches?

Although river birch thrives in wet areas, it tolerates fairly dry soils once it becomes established. However, river birch tends to shed leaves and twigs during dry spells in late summer and early fall in response to drought stress.

Where do river birch trees grow?

In the wild, river birch grows near the banks of streams and rivers, bottomlands, and floodplains throughout the eastern U.S., from eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the Florida panhandle and as far west as southeastern Iowa, Oklahoma, and eastern Texas. Young river birch branches shed their outer bark in papery curls.

What are the flowers on birch trees?

In addition to the exfoliating bark that offers year-round appeal, river birch produces showy, reddish-green, 2- to 3-inch long male (staminate) flowers called catkins at the ends of branches. They appear in late summer and autumn and remain on the tree during the winter. In the spring, when the drooping, dark brown pollen-bearing male catkins expand and bloom, separate, greenish, ¾- to 1¼-inch long non-showy female (pistillate) catkins emerge from shortened shoots called spurs. These upright female catkins resemble small pine cones. Birch trees are monoecious, meaning that male and female flowers are produced in separate structures on the same tree. The wind-pollinated female catkins develop into brown, dangling structures that bear many small, brown, winged nutlets, which are dispersed by the wind.

Why is my river birch leaf yellowing?

River birch requires acidic soils and may suffer from leaf yellowing, or chlorosis, caused by an iron deficiency at soil pH levels of 6.5 or higher. Naturalized landscape planting of Cully river birch ( Betula nigra ‘Cully’ Heritage®). Mark Weathington, JC Raulston Arboretum.

What is the most widely adapted birch tree in South Carolina?

River birch ( Betula nigra) is the most widely adapted of all the birches and grows throughout South Carolina. It is hardy in USDA Cold Hardiness Zones 4 to 9. River birch’s widespread popularity is widely attributed to the year-round interest of its peeling or exfoliating two-toned bark. On younger trunks and branches the pinkish ...

Why do river birch leaves shed?

However, river birch tends to shed leaves and twigs during dry spells in late summer and early fall in response to drought stress. Maintain a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch to conserve soil moisture. River birch requires acidic soils and may suffer from leaf yellowing, or chlorosis, caused by an iron deficiency at soil pH levels of 6.5 or higher.

How tall does a BNMTF tree get?

‘BNMTF’ (Dura-Heat®) –This heat- and drought-tolerant selection grows up to 50 feet tall and 30 feet wide with a dense broad columnar to oval-rounded crown. The peeling bark exposes creamy-white inner bark. Its leathery, lustrous dark green leaves, smaller than the species, turn yellow in the fall. Discovered as a seedling by Dwayne Moon of Moon’s Tree Farm in Loganville, GA.

What is the aphid on birch?

In the spring, spiny witch hazel gall aphids that either overwintered as eggs on witch hazel bark ( Hamamelis spp.) or as immature females beneath the birch bark feed on the sap of newly expanding river birch leaves. Their feeding causes the leaves to become distorted. The puckered or “corrugated” upper leaf surface produces deep channels on the lower leaf surfaces where the aphids feed; they are further protected by a coating of waxy-white granular material. After several generations, winged female aphids return to witch hazel to complete their life cycle.

What is a river birch tree?

Image by LAByrne. The river birch is a popular tree for river banks and wet parts of the garden. Its attractive bark is especially striking in the winter when the rest of the tree is bare.

How tall do birch trees grow?

These trees prefer full sun but will tolerate partial shade. They tend to grow between 40 and 70 feet (12-21 m.) in height.

Is river birch hardy?

River birch trees ( Betula nigra) are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9. They are more heat tolerant than most of their birch relatives, making them a good choice in many parts of the southern U.S.

Can river birch trees grow in water?

In nature, you will most likely find a river birch tree growing near water. Because of its affinity for wet, heavy soil, planting a river birch tree can fill in spaces where nothing else seems to grow. If you have water on your property, consider lining it with river birch trees.

What type of soil does a river birch like?

The river birch grows well in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained, wet and clay soils. It will tolerate moderate flooding as well as some drought.

Why did birch trees grow along the river bank?

But they were rather distained by loggers as knotty and spindly, therefore often left to grow along the river bank to control erosion.

What birds eat birch?

The catkins of the River Birch are used by redpolls and pine siskins. The foliage is eaten by deer and other browsers. The small but plentiful seeds are appreciated by a wide range of songbirds.

How fast does a sage tree grow?

This tree grows at a medium to fast rate, with height increases of anywhere from 13" to more than 24" per year.

When do birch trees produce?

Produces brown and green catkins in April and May. Yields a large number of tiny nutlets after female catkins mature, typically in May and June. Develops a cinnamon-colored bark that curls and peels (once mature). Can grow as either a single- or multi-stemmed tree. Is the most borer-resistant birch.

Is river birch a maple?

The river birch has not yet reached the popularity of many maples and oaks, but it is well on its way. In 2002, one of its cultivars was even named the Urban Tree ...

When do river birch trees bloom?

They form at different times; the male catkins form in fall and bloom in the spring, when the female catkins appear. After pollination, clusters of small, brown winged fruit form in the spring.

How long does it take for a river birch tree to grow?

This is a fast-growing tree that averages about 36 inches of growth per year. Dwarf varieties may grow a bit slower, taking 10 years or so to reach 10 feet. River birches are not particularly long-lived trees, however.

What is the name of the birch that leaves blotches?

River birch is one of the more trouble-free of the birches, but like any birch, it may fall prey to the birch leafminer ( Fenusa pusilla ). The symptoms are large blotches on the leaves. The best treatment is a systemic pesticide that targets these insects. These chemicals are best applied by a professional.

What is the best tree to grow in the spring?

After pollination, clusters of small, brown winged fruit form in the spring. A river birch is an excellent choice as a specimen tree. The salmon-red peeling bark will provide color throughout all of the seasons. This tree works well in locations with wet soil, such as along ponds and streams or in low-lying spots.

How long do birch trees live?

While some native trees have been known to live 150 years, most of the cultivars are reaching the end of their expected lifespans within 30 to 40 years. Botanical Name. Betula nigra. Common Name. River birch, water birch, black bird, red birch. Plant Type. Deciduous tree. Mature Size.

How to keep a tree from drying out?

Water deeply for two to three hours once a week to keep the soil around the tree moist. This tree needs damp soil and will suffer during periods of drought. Adding mulch will help keep the soil cool, which will protect the roots from drying out. Do not place mulch where it will touch the trunk. A thirsty tree is more likely to suffer insect or disease problems.

What climate zone do acorn trees grow in?

Temperature and Humidity. These trees are suited to grow in USDA zones 4 to 9, but they prefer relatively cool climates. The species version will not perform well in the southern end of this range, but several cultivars are bred to do well in warmer climates. This tree prefers humid weather over dry climates.

What are the colors of birch trees?

Birch trees have spectacular fall colors that can be golden yellow, vibrant orange, or fiery red. Common birch trees get their names from the bark’s distinctive colors, which can be white, silver, black, gray, or yellow. Common species of birch include the white birch, silver birch, and paper birch.

What does birch bark look like?

Birch tree bark is usually whitish-gray, silver, or sometimes red. The bark on most birch trees has horizontal dark streaks that look like scoring (called lenticels). Birch tree bark is also well-known for its paper-like texture and peeling nature. The peeling bark on birch trees gives them ornamental value in wintertime.

How to identify birch trees?

Typically, you can identify birch trees by their bark, leaves, and flowers. For example, some birches have thin peeling bark that exfoliates in long strips, whereas some species don’t peel. Also, birch leaves can be egg-shaped, triangular, or diamond-shaped. This article is a guide to identifying common birch trees.

Why is the Betula tree called the White Birch?

The paper birch tree was used to make canoes. That’s why the Betula papyrifera tree is also called the canoe birch tree. Its brilliant white bark is the reason it’s called the white birch.

How to tell if a birch tree is aspen or birch?

Another way to tell birch trees apart from aspen trees is by their leaves. Birch leaves tend to be triangular or spear-shaped with noticeable serrated margins.

Why is a sweet birch called a sweet birch?

The sweet birch tree gets its name from the scent of wintergreen in the twigs, bark, and leaves. The other common names of Betula lenta refer to other features of the tree. For example, ‘black birch’ due to its dark bark color. ‘Cherry birch’ and ‘mahogany birch’ because of the way the bark looks on mature birch trees. And ‘spice birch’ due to the aromatic wintergreen scent it emits.

Why is the paper birch tree called the white birch tree?

The paper birch tree has ornamental value in garden landscapes due to its golden fall color and thin, exfoliating, smooth pure white bark. Leaves are egg-shaped with irregularly toothed margins.

How tall do river birch trees grow?

River birch trees can be grown in planting zones 4 to 9. Native to the Eastern U.S., they will reach a height of 40 to 70 feet with a spread of 25 to 35 feet. They can be multi-trunked trees or grown to have just one trunk. These specimens are full-sun trees, but they will also tolerate partial shade. The trees' peeling bark is as attractive as the ...

What is the color of birch bark?

Another of the attractive non-white birch trees is the yellow birch ( Betula alleghaniensis ). A tall tree (60 to 80 feet) with a spread of about 30 feet, it has yellow fall foliage. But it derives its common name not from the color of its foliage, but rather from the color of its peeling bark. This bark sheds like that of the paper and river birch trees. Speaking more accurately, the bark is silvery-bronze in color with hints of gold. Yellow birches should be grown in full sun to partial shade, in planting zones 4 to 7.

What trees are good for fall foliage?

Betula species such as river birch tre es ( Betula nigra) are among the best selections for fall foliage specimens. But the birches boast other traits, too, that will catch the attention of homeowners seeking year-round interest in the yard.

How tall is a young weeping birch?

Another “white” birch is Young’s weeping birch ( Betula pendula Youngii), a dwarf variety that reaches a height of 6 to 12 feet at maturity. It can be grown in planting zones 3 to 9. In addition to its white bark and yellow fall foliage, the form of this tree provides landscaping interest.

How tall is a yellow birch tree?

Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) Another of the attractive non-white birch trees is the yellow birch ( Betula alleghaniensis ). A tall tree (60 to 80 feet) with a spread of about 30 feet, it has yellow fall foliage.

What is the best zone to grow sweet birch?

Both the foliage and the bark makes this specimen one of the fragrant plants. Grow it in zones 4 to 7 in full sun to partial shade. Most importantly, sweet birch bears a more reliably strong, golden-yellow fall foliage than most other birches (whose autumn leaves sometimes lapse into paler yellows).

Why is the bark of a birch tree so famous?

The bark of this tree is famous for another reason, too: as the material for birch-bark canoes.

Mature Height/Spread

Growth Rate

Ornamental Features

• In addition to the exfoliating bark that offers year-round appeal, river birch produces showy, reddish-green, 2- to 3-inch long male (staminate) flowers called catkins at the ends of branches. They appear in late summer and autumn and remain on the tree during the winter. In the spring, when the drooping, dark brown pollen-bearing male catkins expa...

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Landscape Use

Problems

Cultivars