ENH254/ST095: Betula nigra 'Heritage': 'Heritage' River Birch

Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson2

Introduction

A North American native, `Heritage' river birch can grow 50 to 80 feet tall but is often seen at 40 to 50 feet. It will grow about 30 inches or more each year in USDA hardiness zone 7, faster in the south. It has a narrow, pyramidal to oval crown with many fine branches when young, spreading wider and becoming more oval with age with several branches eventually becoming dominant. It has scaly, beige or creamy white bark, which remains an attractive pinkish-white for a longer period of time than the species. The leaves are generally shaped like a triangle.

Figure 1. Middle-aged Betula nigra 'Heritage': 'Heritage' River Birch
General Information

Scientific name: Betula nigra

Pronunciation: BET-yoo-luh NYE-gruh

Common name(s): 'Heritage' River Birch

Family: Betulaceae

USDA hardiness zones: 4A through 9A (Fig. 2)

Origin: native to North America

Invasive potential: little invasive potential

Uses: tree lawn 4-6 feet wide; tree lawn > 6 ft wide; hedge; street without sidewalk; screen; shade; specimen; deck or patio

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the tree


Figure 2. Range
Description

Height: 40 to 50 feet

Spread: 25 to 35 feet

Crown uniformity: symmetrical

Crown shape: oval, upright/erect, pyramidal

Crown density: dense

Growth rate: fast

Texture: medium

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: alternate (Fig. 3)

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: double serrate

Leaf shape: rhomboid, ovate

Leaf venation: pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: deciduous

Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: yellow

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: brown

Flower characteristics: not showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: elongated

Fruit length: 1 to 3 inches

Fruit covering: dry or hard

Fruit color: brown

Fruit characteristics: does not attract wildlife; not showy; fruit/leaves not a litter problem

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: branches droop; very showy; typically multi-trunked; thorns

Pruning requirement: little required

Breakage: resistant

Current year twig color: reddish, brown

Current year twig thickness: thin

Wood specific gravity: unknown

Culture

Light requirement: full sun, partial sun or partial shade

Soil tolerances: sand; loam; clay; acidic; well-drained; extended flooding

Drought tolerance: moderate

Aerosol salt tolerance: low

Other

Roots: not a problem

Winter interest: yes

Outstanding tree: yes

Ozone sensitivity: unknown

Verticillium wilt susceptibility: resistant

Pest resistance: resistant to pests/diseases


Figure 3. Foliage
Use and Management

`Heritage' river birch can be trained with one central leader or as a multi-stemmed tree. Like the species, it branches low on the trunk which makes it well-suited for use as a specimen tree, but the trunk must be cleared up for street or other urban uses to allow for pedestrian and vehicular clearance. Some nurseries plant two or three liners together to form a clump but these trunks will not fuse into one strong trunk. In addition, one of the trunks usually outgrows and suppresses the others. It should be grown more as a single-trunked specimen. The branches droop when they are wet, so be careful locating them close to areas where clearance is needed for vehicular traffic. It is very well-suited for planting along steam banks and in other areas which are inundated with water for weeks at a time. River birch is seen in the wild almost exclusively along stream banks. `Heritage' river birch tolerates low soil oxygen, periodic flooding, clay, and prefers moist soil. The tree requires an acid soil, otherwise it becomes chlorotic. `Heritage' river birch is hardy, grows rapidly, but tends to be short-lived (30 to 40 years) in many urban settings including street tree plantings. This might be due to inadequate water supply in dry soil or root rots in continually wet soil. But like the callery pears, it will look great for about two decades or more and this is better than many other trees commonly planted in urban areas. Although the tree tolerates heat well in the south, situate the tree so it receives adequate water since leaves may scorch in dry soil. Not a tree to plant and forget due to irrigation requirement. Not for confined street tree pits or tree lawns in the south unless provided with irrigation. Although it is better adapted to heat than other birches, not a highly heat-tolerant tree. Propagation of `Heritage' river birch is by softwood cuttings but the plant is patented.
Pests and Diseases

No pests or diseases are of major concern. `Heritage' river birch is reportedly resistant to bronze birch borer. Susceptible to leaf miner and scorch, and to leaf spots in wet climates. Aphids and caterpillars infest foliage.

Footnotes

1. This document is ENH254, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date November, 1993. Revised December 2006. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2. Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; Dennis G. Watson, associate professor, Agricultural Engineering Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer, Interim Dean.

Contact Information

UF/IFAS Extension Administration
P.O. Box 110210
Gainesville, FL 32611

Phone: (352) 392-1761
Email: sfyl@ifas.ufl.edu

Copyright 2008
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