Betula nigra

river birch, red birch, black birch

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Photo credit: Britt Slattery/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Chesapeake Bay Field Office, Annapolis, MD 21401. www.fws.gov/r5cbfo
Family

Betulaceae

Region

Coastal Plain, Mountain, Piedmont

States

Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia

Plant Type

Tall Tree (Canopy)

Height

50 - 75ft

Spread

35 - 50ft

Flower Color

Brown

Fruit

Cone/Cone-like; Brown

Sun Exposure

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Soil Texture

Clay, Loamy

Soil Moisture

Moist, Wet

Blooms

April - May

Fall Color

yellow

Habitat

lowland species mainly along streams, rivers, ponds, and swamps

Notes

attractive peeling bark;; Used for furniture, fuel, and pulpwood; ruffed grouse and wild turkey sometimes eat the seeds

More Information

Landscaping with Native Plants
Native Plant List
How to Shop for Native Plants
Plant Invaders of the Mid Atlantic

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Resources

The Native Plants Guide

Physiographic Regions of Chesapeake Watershed

Mountain
Piedmont
Coastal Plain