River Birch

Betula nigra

Betulaceae (Birch Family)

▲ ▼ Mature trees

▲ yellow fall foliage color

▲ tan, peeling bark on younger trees

▲ bark on mature tree

▲ leaves

▲ ice storm damage from 2007 Springfield, MO ice storm-- river birch trees did not do well

Location on campus: in retention basin area south of Grand and Parking Lots #22 and #24

Betula nigra: River Birch

leaves alternate, deciduous, simple, rhombic-ovate with doubly serrate margins and pointed tip; medium to dark green and glossy above, glaucous underneath; 1.5-3.5" long and 2 to 2/3 as wide
stems reddish brown and pubescent when young, glabrous later, with many small lenticels
bark is tan, orange, salmon and exfoliating on young trunks, scaly gray-brown on older trunks; bark is main ornamental feature
grows 40-70' tall with near equal spread in a pyramidal to oval habit
prefers full sun to part shade and moist, fertile, slightly acid soils, but can tolerate drier soils--may shed some leaves early in dry summers
resistant to bronze birch borer
medium to fast growth rate
native to Missouri