Latin: Betula nigra
Other common names: black birch, red birch, water birch, cinnamon birch
Mature Height: Medium to fast growing. It is a deciduous tree growing to 80 ft, rarely to 100 ft. high with a trunk up to 2 ft. rarely 5 ft. diameter often with multiple trunks.Soil / Climate: Full sun While it is commonly found in plains and/or swamps, it will grow on higher land. It better adapts to heat than other birches.
Notes: insect resistant. River birch are good for large residences, public grounds, parks, golf courses, etc. Native Americans used the boiled sap as a sweetener similar to Maple syrup and the inner bark as a survival food. The bark of some are quite distinctive (very smooth and pinky white), making it a favored ornamental tree for landscaping. A spring planting (mid to late April) is recommended for bare root river birch.
Wildlife: A number of species of birds eat river birch seeds including ruffed grouse and wild turkey. White-tailed deer browse river birch. It provides nesting sites for waterfowl.
Cold Stream Farm supplies River Birch trees which are grown as bare root seedlings and transplants and sold both wholesale and retail with no minimum order.