Betula nigra
River Birch

Family:

Betulaceae (Birch Family) 27

Genus:

Betula (Birch) 12

Plant Type:

Tree 581

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 3 225

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 807

Flowers:

Brown (Male and female catkins; not ornamentally important)

Foliage:

Green (Lustrous green foliage in summer); Yellow (Yellow fall foliage)

Fruit:

Brown (Small nutlet; not ornamentally important)

Ultimate Height:

40-70 feet

Ultimate Spread:

40-60 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil:

Especially well adapted to wet soils; does not do well in dry situations; leaf chlorosis develops on alkaline soils

Range:

Eastern United States

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves (1.5-3.5" long) are alternate, rhombic-ovate, sharp pointed, doubly serrate, base wedge shaped, lustrous medium to dark green above and glabrous below. Chestnut-brown imbricate buds are 0.25" long. Male catkins (2-3" long) are dark brown. Shining, cream, brown, orange, and reddish exfoliating bark.

Ecological Functions:

Special Characteristics:

Additional Information

Graceful tree, interesting for its curling bark, and especially well adapted to wet soils. Immune to the bronze birch borer, which is a serious problem for the native Betula papyrifera in the Midwest. This species prefers full sun and is quite heat tolerant, but does not have tolerance for drought. If pruning is required, prune in summer or during the dormant season.

Plant Photo Gallery

Habit in the Summer

Habit in the Fall

Leaf

Mature Bark

Winter Interest- Younger Bark

Fruit

Bark

Bark & Flowers

Flower & Foliage

Foliage & Bark

Winter Habit

Winter Interest

Bark on a Young Tree

Bud

When Betula nigra has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Fruiting

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

141 Betula nigra found

Building Map...

= Heritage plant = Memorial plant

Number	Accession ID	Location
1	2015_00300*A	REC
2	2015_00949*A	PGMD	Heritage Plant
3	2015_00382*A	REC
4	ORIG_2412*A	KNOY
5	ORIG_7300*A	PGW
6	2009_13398*A	HORTPARK
7	ORIG_6565*A	HANS
8	2009_13957*A	HORTPARK
9	2018_00914*A	HILL
10	2015_00303*A	REC
11	ORIG_2975*A	PMU
12	2009_13952*A	HORTPARK
13	2015_00425*A	FRNY
14	ORIG_7298*A	PGW
15	2013_01034*A	HORTPARK
16	ORIG_7401*A	ADDL
17	ORIG_6832*A	HORT
18	ORIG_6564*A	HANS
19	ORIG_1113*A	MEMMALL
20	2018_00915*A	HILL
21	2010_09520*A	PICK
22	2009_13951*A	HORTPARK
23	2015_00375*A	REC
24	2009_13956*A	HORTPARK
25	2015_00424*A	FRNY
26	2015_00302*A	REC
27	2009_13959*A	HORTPARK
28	2009_13960*A	HORTPARK
29	2018_01089*B	HORTPARK
30	2009_13965*A	HORTPARK
31	ORIG_6833*A	HORT
32	2015_00373*A	REC
33	2015_00299*A	REC
34	2009_13948*A	HORTPARK
35	ORIG_7253*A	KCTR
36	2015_00947*A	PGMD
37	2015_00379*A	REC
38	2015_00380*A	REC
39	ORIG_6145*A	PVA
40	2016_00093*A	DUHM
41	ORIG_7254*A	KCTR
42	ORIG_1158*A	PGU
43	2009_13955*A	HORTPARK
44	2009_13964*A	HORTPARK
45	ORIG_7204*A	ORIG
46	2009_13954*A	HORTPARK
47	ORIG_6835*A	HORT
48	2009_13962*A	HORTPARK
49	ORIG_6834*A	HORT
50	ORIG_7299*A	PGW
51	2009_13953*A	HORTPARK
52	2009_13961*A	HORTPARK
53	2015_00945*A	PGMD
54	2015_00377*A	REC
55	2018_01089*A	HORTPARK
56	ORIG_7226*A	KCTR
57	ORIG_2938*A	STEW
58	ORIG_1116*A	MEMMALL
59	2010_09289*A	PICK
60	2013_01035*A	HORTPARK
61	ORIG_6511*A	HANS
62	2015_00371*A	REC
63	2013_01036*A	HORTPARK
64	2015_00376*A	REC
65	ORIG_1117*A	MEMMALL
66	2015_00381*A	REC
67	2015_00374*A	REC
68	ORIG_2939*A	STEW
69	2015_00372*A	REC
70	ORIG_3167*A	IAF
71	2015_00298*A	REC
72	ORIG_6142*A	PVA
73	2010_09291*A	PICK
74	ORIG_0834*A	SMTH
75	ORIG_7205*A	KCTR
76	2015_00946*A	PGMD
77	2018_00504*A	ADM
78	2009_13947*A	HORTPARK
79	2009_13950*A	HORTPARK
80	2009_13949*A	HORTPARK
81	ORIG_7227*A	KCTR
82	ORIG_1762*A	JNSN
83	2015_00383*A	REC
84	2015_00301*A	REC
85	ORIG_2937*A	STEW
86	2015_00944*A	PGMD
87	ORIG_6144*A	PVA
88	2015_00304*A	REC
89	2013_00192*A	HORTPARK
90	2015_00378*A	REC
91	2015_00948*A	PGMD
92	ORIG_7400*A	ADDL
93	2018_00504*B	ADM
94	2009_13963*A	HORTPARK
95	ORIG_2977*A	PMU
96	2009_13399*A	HORTPARK
97	2009_13958*A	HORTPARK
98	2009_13397*A	HORTPARK
99	2013_01033*A	HORTPARK
100	ORIG_6836*A	HORT
101	2018_01380*A	ACKER
102	2018_01163*A	HORTPARK
103	2018_01382*A	ACKER
104	2018_01168*A	HORTPARK
105	2018_01171*A	HORTPARK
106	2021_00072*B	WTHR
107	2023_00040*A	BREQ
108	2023_00040*B	BREQ
109	2023_00040*C	BREQ
110	2023_00040*D	BRUN
111	2023_00040*E	BRUN
112	2023_00040*F	BRUN
113	2023_00185*A	HORTPARK	Heritage Plant Dedicated/Memorial Plant
114	2023_00185*B	HORTPARK
115	2023_00185*C	HORTPARK
116	2023_00254*A	HORTPARK
117	2023_00291*A	HANS
118	2022_15775*A	HORTPARK
119	2023_00442*A	PSF
120	2023_00442*B	PSF
121	2023_00442*C	PSF
122	2023_00442*D	AR
123	2023_00442*E	AR
124	2023_00442*F	AR
125	2023_00442*G	AR
126	2023_00442*H	AR
127	2023_00442*I	AR
128	2023_00442*J	AR
129	2023_00442*K	AR
130	2023_00442*L	HORTPARK
131	2020_01171*A	HORTPARK
132	2020_01171*B	HORTPARK
133	2020_01171*C	HORTPARK
134	2023_00596*A	WANG
135	2023_00596*B	WANG
136	2023_00802*A	ADM
137	2023_00802*B	ADM
138	2023_00802*C	ADM
139	2024_00023*A	HORTPARK
140	2024_00023*B	HORTPARK
141	2024_00023*C	HORTPARK