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River Birch

Betula nigra

Other common name(s):

Red Birch, Black Birch, Water Birch

Family:

Betulaceae (Alder Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

30
to
50
ft.

Spread

20
to
30
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Acid, Poor Drainage

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Green, Brown

Bloom Season

Winter

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Birds

Maintenance

If necessary, prune for shape. Propagation: Seed, Softwood cuttings.

Comments

Silvery to peach colored bark flakes in sheets to deeper orange. Can be multi-trunked. Fruit resembles little cones, leaves are triangular with a rounded bottom which turn yellow in fall. Likes Houston’s clay soil.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas., 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BENI. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Betula+nigra&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=4945&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 332. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=19480#null

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