River Birch Tree

River birch (Betula nigra) is a fast-growing native tree with salmon-to-rust bark that peels in papery layers, and it handles wet ground that stops most trees. We ship river birch trees bare-root from 6 inches to 4 feet, in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500, for wet sites, banks, borders and large properties.

River Birch Size, Zones and Sun

Height runs 30 to 70 feet and spread 40 to 60, so this is a wide tree. It usually has more than one trunk, with an open pyramid shape, and it grows fast in zones 4-9. Sun gives the best leaf color, but part shade is fine. It takes clay, loam or sand, from acidic to neutral, and moist, acidic, well-drained loam is its favorite. Floods do not bother it, even long ones.

River Birch Bark

Look at a young stem and you will see why people buy it: reddish-brown bark that curls off all year in thin salmon and rust-colored sheets. Old trunks lose that look and turn to flat, scaly ridges, which still show up well in winter. Bronze birch borer, a pest that hurts many other birches, is one that river birch resists.

River Birch and Wildlife

Caterpillars of the mourning cloak, dreamy duskywing and eastern tiger swallowtail eat the leaves. The seeds feed grouse, turkeys, small birds and rodents, and in late winter and early spring birds and squirrels work the male catkins. Deer eat the twigs, buds and foliage. Our list of trees that handle wet ground has more for the same site.

Good to Know About River Birch

The tree drops twigs through the year and sheds leaves in summer drought. Falling branchlets clog gutters, so keep it away from the house; our page on planting distances for large trees helps with spacing.

River Birch Sizes, Packs and Shipping

River birch trees ship bare-root in November, in 6-12 inch, 12-18 inch, 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 foot sizes and packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500. Volume pricing available. Browse more trees for sale in our wholesale collection.