Betula nigra (River Birch) Unity Grown

Betula nigra, commonly known as river birch, is a vigorous, fast growing, medium-sized native tree that occurs in floodplains, along streams and riverbanks, and in other wet or swampy areas across much of the eastern half of the US. A valuable species for erosion control when placed along river banks, Betula nigra is also a host plant for many types of butterfly and moth, and after small catkin-type flowers emerge in spring, numerous small seeds are produced, which leads to a fair amount of reseeding. Besides reproduction, birch seeds are also a favorite of a variety of smaller mammals and birds, and deer and other larger mammals will often browse young branches. 

Equally valuable as an ecological addition and an ornamental one, river birch features salmon-pink exfoliating bark with glossy, medium to dark green leaves which turn a striking yellow shade in the fall. Once established, Betula nigra can grow 2-3' per year up to a mature height of 40-70' tall. Common for large hedgerows along roadways or for naturalizing in forests and near creeks and ponds, river birch is a reliable, if occasionally weed, tree selection for a number of landscape types.

Available in both multi-stemmed and single-stemmed selections, the multi-stemmed variant produces a shrubby, irregular crown and a more ecologically valuable form of the species which tends to be more toward the shorter end of the spectrum.  The single-stemmed form develops a pyramidal habit when young and matures into a more rounded shape, making it ideal for use as a shade or specimen tree towards the taller end of the height limit.