Betula nigra 'Heritage' (River Birch)

The 'Heritage' cultivar of Betula nigra, commonly called river birch, is a fast-growing, medium-sized, multi-branched tree prized for its unique, colorful, exfoliating bark and its fast growth rate up to a mature height of 40-60' tall. Betula nigra 'Heritage' improves upon the straight species even more aesthetically pleasing bark, which ranges in shade from brown and gray to salmon pink or creamy white. In addition to its aesthetic value, the 'Heritage' cultivar also provides this river birch with extra protection from common pest insects like the bronze birch borer (Agrilus anxius), as well as from various leaf spot diseases.

Beyond pest resistance and aesthetic value, Betula nigra 'Heritage' is an adaptable cultivar that thrives in wet conditions on river banks, in floodplains, and in marshy areas, but these trees are also highly heat and drought tolerant once established. River birch are ecologically valuable, and their attractive, multi-trunked growth habit attracts butterflies that use the tree as a host plant for their offspring, as well as birds and small mammals who eat the caterpillars as well as some of the birch's seed. Suckering growth can cause river birch to become a weedy tree over time, but this also makes for excellent large borders and  easy naturalization.