River birch is a common river-side tree and ornamental throughout the southeast.
Light 
River birch is rarely intentionally regenerated, but can be regenerated by clearcutting on alluvial sites.
Water
River birch is the only southern birch. It is found at low elevations along stream banks.
Growth
Size
Medium size tree reaching up to 70 feet tall. The trunk generally divides low into several upright trunks.
Timber Value 
Generally too small and knot-filled to have timber value.
Wildlife Value 
A variety of wildlife eat the seeds and it is browsed, and waterfowl use this tree for cover and nesting.
Attracts grouse, turkey, deer, waterfowl
Fun Facts
River birch is the only birch that bears mature fruit in late spring. At this time water is receding, leaving exposed shorelines which offer the best seedbed for the seeds to germinate.
Latin Meaning
Betula: Latin (pitch - bitumen is distilled from the bark or Sanskrit "bhurja" (to shine" (bark))) /
nigra: black (bark)
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