Foliage
Bark
Fruit
Form
Video
Taxonomy
| Family | Betulaceae |
|---|---|
| Genus | Betula |
| Species | nigra |
| Common Name | river birch |
| iTree Code | BENI |
Plant Form
| Form | Tree: narrow crown; often multiple trunk |
|---|---|
| Height | 70 feet |
| Spread | 40 feet |
| Deciduous | Yes |
Identification Description
| Foliage | broad angled base with pointed tip (rhombic or nearly triangular); doubly serrate edge | Leaf Type
 |
Simple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needles | 0 | ||
| Bark | very papery and exfoliating with white, brown, salmon colors; becoming dark brown and furrowed or platy with age | ||
| Bud | orange/brown, slender and hairy, overlapping scales (imbricate) | Bud Arrangement
|
Alternate |
| Twig | brown/gray, slender and flexible, hairy (pubescent); reddish and smooth with age | ||
| Flower | catkins; male: performed (year before), drooping, light green; female: shorter and upright, green; male and female on the same tree (monoecious) | ||
| Fruit | paper light brown papery "cone" containing small nutlet | ||
| Fall Color | yellow | ||
Site Characteristics
| USDA Zones
|
pH Levels | Salt Tolerance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | 3b | Min | 3.0 | Soil | Intolerant |
| Max | 8b | Max | 6.5 | Spray | Intolerant |
| Shade Tolerance | Drought Tolerance | Allelopathy |
|---|---|---|
| Intolerant | Intolerant | Yes |
Species Status
| Nebraska Native | |
|---|---|
| U.S. Native |
|
| Region of Origin | United States |
| More Information | Visit External Site |