River birch (Betula nigra) is a fast-growing, shade tree native to the Mississippi River flood plain in southeastern Minnesota. It is popular for its ornamental peeling bark. As a landscape plant, it is grown as a single-stem tree or in a clump as a multi-stemmed tree with three or more trunks.
Consequently, is River Birch a shade tree?
River birch trees (Betula nigra) are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9. Though they do best in moist conditions, they tolerate drier soil better than other birch trees do. These trees prefer full sun but will tolerate partial shade. They tend to grow between 40 and 70 feet in height.
Beside above, how do you identify a river birch tree? River birch is distinguished by having alternate, simple leaves, 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches long, 3/4 to 2 1/2 inches wide, sharp pointed, double toothed or shallowly lobed, with a wedge shaped base. The veins of the leaves run directly to the teeth from the mid-vein of the leaf.
Also question is, what trees are in the birch family?
The birch family is a group of flowering plants of tree or shrub form that includes the birches (Betula), alders (Alnus), hornbeams (Carpinus), and hazels (Corylus). Members of the birch family have simple and alternate leaves that bear appendages (stipules) where they join the branch.
What does a river birch look like?
River birch is a fast-growing, deciduous semi-aquatic tree that reaches between 50 and 90 feet in height. Its diamond shaped, double-toothed leaves produce an erect or spreading canopy that covers an extensive area. The leaves turn yellow in the fall.
17 Related Question Answers Found
Do river birch trees need a lot of water?
Water the river birch tree once a week in the spring and summer when the weather is dry. Water the tree slowly and deeply, providing 8 to 18 inches of water over two or three hours with a trickling hose. The river birch likes moist soil, and should receive between 30 and 40 gallons of water a month, including rainfall.
Are river birch trees messy?
The other tree I have is a native River Birch. It is just a few years old, and is doing great. These trees do like water, so I like to plant hostas under them. This tree is very messy, with small branches and leaves being a problem all year long.
What is the lifespan of a river birch tree?
It shoots up to its mature height of 50 to 90 feet with an annual growth rate averaging 36 inches per growing season. The birch’s canopy spreads 40 to 60 feet, wider in multitrunked specimens. A healthy river birch can live from 50 to 150 years, although cultivated specimens rarely exceed the minimum.
How long does a birch tree live?
The lifespan of a paper birch in the wild is between 80 and 140 years. Cultivated paper birches have a much shorter life if they are grown in the home landscape. Here they may only live between 30 and 40 years. Some species of birch can live hundreds of years under optimal conditions.
How far apart should you plant river birch trees?
Know what species of birch you are planting. Keep in mind that paper, silver and river birch can grow 40 to 60 feet high, with a spread of 20 to 25 feet, while weeping birch will only get half that tall. Plant taller species 20 to 30 feet apart.
Where should I plant a river birch tree?
Avoid planting them in shallow soil in USDA zones 8b and 9a, so they can establish deep root systems to survive the heat. River birch grows best in full sun, but tolerates partial shade. The tree will grow in a more open shape if planted in the shade.
Is River Birch fast growing?
The river birch is a fast growing tree, reaching between 40 and 90 feet. With its graceful weeping branches, it make an excellent ornamental tree and adapts very well to most conditions. River birches like sun to full shade and the soil can be highly acidic to alkaline. River birch can grow as high as 90 feet.
Do river birch trees lose their leaves in winter?
The river birch (Betula nigra) and its cultivar, “Heritage” (Betula nigra “Heritage”), both USDA zones 4 through 9, lose their leaves in the fall. The river birch and the “Heritage” are cone-shaped trees with erect canopies, though the river birch may spread, producing foliage that covers an extensive area.
What do birch trees symbolize?
The birch tree has much symbolism and some of this symbolism include growth, renewal, stability, initiation, adaptability, a new beginning, regeneration, hope, new dawn, and the promise of what is to come.
Why are birch trees planted in threes?
Height. One possible reason people plant silver birches in groups of three is to reduce their height. Since the birch roots are both deep and wide-spreading, certain gardeners feel that by planting a cluster of three trees, the roots will have to share a small area and, as a result, may limit the height of the trees.
Can you keep a birch tree small?
With a choice in bark color and texture, as well as tree height, it can also be found weeping in the small Betula pendula ‘Youngii’. Birch is known as a quick growing tree, which can grow to 40 feet. They are not all suitable for small gardens. Birch trees are extremely hardy, a major player in subarctic forests.
Where are birch trees most common?
Native birches live in temperate or boreal climates across the northern part of North America. Paper birch (B. papyrifera), the white-barked tree used widely by trading native nations and Voyageurs, grows from Alaska to Maine, but only as far south as the mountains of Virginia, Tennessee and Oregon.
What is the difference between aspen and birch trees?
Quaking Aspens are often confused with birch trees. Birch are famous for having bark that peels back like paper; aspen bark does not peel. Whereas aspen leaves are perfectly flat, birch leaves are slightly “V” shaped and more elongated than Quaking Aspen leaves.
Can you top river birch trees?
We have a large river birch in back yard about 30 feet from house. Tree has grown to about 50 feet tall. Generally speaking, cutting the tops off of trees simply encourages the tree to rejuvenate itself with a lot of fast soft growth which is weakly attached to the points where the cuts were made.
What is the whitest birch tree?
Jacquemontii Birch: This birch has the whitest of bark of all the birch trees. Its multi stem or single stem varieties are some of the best branching patterns in a birch.
Is Birch Wood Toxic?
Most poisons in plants and trees are located in the bark and/or sap – there are some exceptions for rare woods. Those who have an allergic reaction to aspirin should avoid using woods from birch and willow trees (Betula spp.
How much is a river birch tree?
Price List for River Birch Tree Size Ships Price 3-4′ 12/01/2019 – 04/01/2020 $12.95 4-5′ 12/01/2019 – 04/01/2020 $16.95 5-6′ 12/01/2019 – 04/01/2020 $29.95 6-7′ 12/01/2019 – 04/01/2020 $49.95