The Facts
Height: 30′ – 40′
Spread: 25′ – 35′
Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Medium to Wet
Soil: Well-Drained
Growth Rate: Fast
Betula nigra, commonly called river birch, is a vigorous, fast-growing, medium-sized, Missouri native deciduous tree which occurs on floodplains, swampy bottomlands and along streams throughout the state. In cultivation, it can be trained as either a single trunk or multi-trunked tree. As a single trunk tree, it develops a pyramidal habit when young, but matures to a more rounded shape.
Multi-trunked trees form a more irregular crown and are generally considered to be the superior growth habit for this species. Salmon-pink to reddish brown bark exfoliates to reveal lighter inner bark. Leathery, diamond-shaped, medium to dark green leaves (1.5-3.5” long) with doubly toothed margins that turn a butter yellow in fall. Flowers appear in drooping, brownish male catkins and smaller, upright, greenish female catkins.
