River birch is native to the eastern United States and is a fast-growing tree reaching up to 40’ to 70’ high. 

Trees are usually grown as multi-trunk trees, but they can be trained as single trunk trees. The highlight of this species is its interesting and attractive papery, exfoliating bark revealing colors of salmon-pink to reddish brown and white. The interesting bark adds winter interest to the landscape. Foliage is bright green in summer and a bright yellow in fall. 

River birch is the most adaptive and heat tolerant of the birches. It prefers moist, acidic soil but tolerates clay and short-term drought. Iron chlorosis can be a problem in high pH soils. Some leaves may turn yellow and drop during the heat of the summer.

Cultivars: Dura Heat® ‘BNMTF’, Fox Valley® ‘Little King’ (dwarf cultivar), Heritage® ‘Cully’, ‘Shiloh Splash’ (variegated foliage), ‘Summer Cascade’ (weeping), and City Slicker® ‘WhitXXV’ (tolerant of alkaline soil).

No serious insect or disease problems. Attracts game birds, insect pollinators, small mammals, songbirds.

Exposure: Full sun part shade
Soil: Moist to wet soils, short-term drought
Hardiness: USDA Zones 4-9