Woody > Betula > Betula nigra > Betula nigra
Betula nigra
River Birch
Origin: United States of America.
| Family |
| Betulaceae |
| Genus |
| Betula |
| Species |
| nigra |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 3b - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 3 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -34 - (-40) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -30 - (-40) |
| Height |
| 12 - 21 m |
| Spread |
| 9 - 15 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| An unusual tree with its distinct exfoliating bark, often seen as a multi-stemmed tree. This tree has been placed on the IUCN Red List as least concern. |
| Landscape |
| Estates, parks, golf courses and campuses. |
| Cultivation |
| Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-draining slightly acidic soil. |
| Shape |
| Pyramidal to oval in youth. More rounded towards maturity. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Brown to deep beige, more vertical exfoliating bark. Uniform exfoliation over the main trunk. |
| Pests |
| Leaf spot (cosmetic). |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Branches 5 cm or greater exfoliate darker revealing a richer colour underneath. Colours vary and are never true to one, shades of gunmetal grey, tawny brown, cinnamon to all of the above mixed together. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Imbricate, small, light chestnut brown. |
| Leaf Description |
| Alternate, sharp-pointed. Dark green in summer turning yellow in autumn. Leaves drop fast. |
| Flower Description |
| Long, slender male catkins dark brown in colour that grow to 7.5 cm in length. |
| Fruit Description |
| Small nutlets in 25 mm catkins that ripen and shed in the spring. |
| Colour Description |
| Lustrous green foliage in summer turning yellow in the autumn. |
| Texture Description |
| Medium. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The A. M (Mac) Cuddy Gardens, Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. |
| Propagation |
| Softwood cuttings. |
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