Betula nigra 'Heritage' (River Birch)
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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.
This versatile tree thrives in wet conditions on steam or river banks, floodplains, and marshy areas, but is also highly heat and drought tolerant once established. In addition to its aesthetic value, the 'Heritage' cultivar also provides this river birch with extra protection from the common birch pest, bronze birch borer, as well as from various leaf spot diseases.
Beyond wide environmental tolerances and aesthetic value, Betula nigra is also a highly ecologically valuable selection, and 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.