Betula nigra
River birch, Black birch, Red birch
Betula Betula
B. nigra - B. nigra is a conical to spreading, deciduous tree with peeling, reddish-brown bark, glossy, diamond-shaped, mid- to dark green leaves turning yellow in autumn, and yellow-brown, male flower catkins in early spring.
Betula nigra is: Deciduous
Broadly conical, Spreading
Yellow-brown in Spring
Mid-green in Spring; Mid-green in Summer; Yellow in Autumn
Aphids , Leaf-mining sawflies , Sawflies Aphids , Leaf-mining sawflies , Sawflies
Honey fungus , Leaf spot , Birch rust Honey fungus , Leaf spot , Birch rust
Pruning group 1.
Grafting, Softwood cuttings, Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Betula nigra (River birch) will reach a height of 18m and a spread of 12m after 20-50 years.
Architectural, Foliage only, Woodland
Grows well in a wide range of soils and situations.
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive, Well-drained
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Partial Shade, Full Sun
North, South, East, West
Exposed, Sheltered
Hardy (H4)
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Betula nigra
River birch, Black birch, Red birch
Betula Betula
B. nigra - B. nigra is a conical to spreading, deciduous tree with peeling, reddish-brown bark, glossy, diamond-shaped, mid- to dark green leaves turning yellow in autumn, and yellow-brown, male flower catkins in early spring.
Eastern United States
Deciduous
Broadly conical, Spreading
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Yellow-brown in Spring
Mid-green in Spring; Mid-green in Summer; Yellow in Autumn
Aphids , Leaf-mining sawflies , Sawflies
Honey fungus , Leaf spot , Birch rust
Pruning group 1.
Grafting, Softwood cuttings, Seed
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Betula nigra (River birch) will reach a height of 18m and a spread of 12m after 20-50 years.
Architectural, Foliage only, Woodland
Grows well in a wide range of soils and situations.
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive, Well-drained
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Partial Shade, Full Sun
North, South, East, West
Exposed, Sheltered
Hardy (H4)
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
Betula nigra (River birch)
Bronze birch borer
Agrilus anxius
Insect
Absent
2
5
Recognised as a significant threat to birch but EU regulation should help to mitigate the threat.
Betula nigra (River birch)
Japanese long scale; Japanese maple scale; Long scale; Japanese; Pear white scale
Lopholeucaspis japonica
Insect
Absent
2
4
Regulated only on Citrus at present; regulation on other hosts needs to be considered. Only likely to be a pest under glass in UK.
Betula nigra (River birch)
Asian longhorn beetle; Starry sky beetle
Anoplophora glabripennis
Insect
Absent
2
4
Recognised threat to a wide range of deciduous tress native to the UK. Already regulated it is a priority for continued surveillance and statutory action. The risk of entry is further mitigated by EU legislation requiring the monitoring of wooden packaging material originating from China.
Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.
Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here
Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.
Date updated: 7th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
This plant likes... | Garden match | |
Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive, Well-drained | Tell us... |
Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
The RHS Back to Nature Garden, designed by The Duchess of Cambridge and award-winning landscape architects Andree Davies and Adam White of Davies White Landscape Architects, is based in a woodland… read more
Three-time RHS gold medal winning designer, Matthew Childs, will be hoping for his fourth award with his Smart Meter Garden at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival. read more
By garden designer Lawrence Roberts. A garden that aims to create an immersive experience for the visitor, a garden that could be appreciated in more ways than from behind a rope as it… read more
The RHS Back to Nature Garden, designed by The Duchess of Cambridge and award-winning landscape architects Andree Davies and Adam White of Davies White Landscape Architects, is based in a woodland… read more
By landscape and garden designer Nic Howard. The collaborative show garden is designed to provoke reflection on mankind’s changing interaction with the environment through time. read more
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login