I've grown what I hope to be an Hymalayan birch from seed that was sent to me from the US. I say I hope because I have no idea whether this particular one will come true from seed. Anyway, it's a birch and when the seeds sprouted they were also very tiny. Hard to believe they'll turn into a tree, but apparently they do. From this tiny seed, my tree is currently about 1.50m tall (5 ft) and I'm wondering how tall it will be by the end of Summer (just breaking dormancy at the moment). I love birches, if I had the room I would have a whole grove of them.

Good luck with your River Birch
Eduarda

I wintersowed some too. Got them in a RR swap last fall. Mine are just beginning to sprout. I'm curious what they'll look like as well.

I too love birches and would love a little wood of them. I would plant Scottish bluebells under them en mass.
A seed trading friend of mine in California sent me three bags of birch seeds (besides the ones I got myself from the little tree at Lowe's). They are European Birch, White American Paper Birch and one other that I cannot recall off hand. I read that they had to be fresh or they wouldn't grow, so I didn't planted them. But now, I think I will go ahead and try sprouting them. What have I got to lose?
I think if I put them in very soggy paper towels and stick them in plastic bags, they should sprout, as that is where they sprout best in their natural environment - on the banks of brooks and rivers where it is very wet.
Worth a try.

Eduarda, I appreciate your input.
Muito Obrigada!

~Annie

You're welcome, Annie, I'm impressed at your Portuguese! :-) BTW, I wintersowed my birches too and the seeds sprouted without any problems using that method. You may wish to try both methods, since you've got so much seed.

Eduarda

Não sei muito, Eduarda!
Um pouco. (Not very much, Eduarda...a little bit.)

Maybe ten words, like 'sim' (yes) and 'não' (no) plus I can say, "O meu nome é Annie." (my name is Annie)

Other words are so much like Spanish, like 'Claro' and 'verdade' (the Spanish is verdad), and that helps me, but really, that's it. Not sure I am pronouncing them right though. That's a little tricky and could get me into trouble, as you know! (hehehe)

Anyway, thank you - Obrigada!

~Annie

Probably more info than you need or want. But the seed age info caught my eye.

k

Here is a link that might be useful: Texas parks and wildlife

Awesome, Kathy!

Thanks you so much!
Seeds good 4-20 years! Wahoo!

~Annie

I know this is an extremely old thread but I thought it'd be useful to post this here. I'm growing some birches from seeds and took a few pictures of the newly germinated babies for reference.

[Germinated paper birch seed[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/gardenweb-phvw-vp~56739925)

[Yogurt cup (5oz/150g) for size reference.[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/gardenweb-phvw-vp~56739654)

This is from a paper birch which I believe have smaller seeds than river birch, correct? I found some river birches as well and they're slightly bigger. They look about the same.