Taxonomy
Clade | angiosperm |
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 |
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 |