added by
rjladwig to
Landscape (5 months ago)
River Birch Botanical name: Betula nigra
Common names: River birch, black birch, water birch
Origin: Native to the eastern United States
USDA zones: 3 to 9 (find your zone)
Water requirement: Moderate to wet soil; adapts to stream banks (as its common name implies) and poor soils
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 40 to 70 feet tall
Benefits and tolerances: Fast-growing, disease-resistant choice for riparian buffers to curb stream erosion and improve biodiversity; leaves are a larval food source for swallowtail butterflies and other insects; seeds attract numerous birds and other wildlife
Seasonal interest: Year-round; beautiful yellow fall color
When to plant: Early spring to late fall