River Birch
Betula nigra
- Native to:
- United States
James St. John (www.flickr.com)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Betulaceae
- Genus:
- Betula
- Species:
- Betula nigra
- USDA Symbol:
- BENI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- brown, green
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acrobasis betulivorella, birch dagger moth (Acronicta betulae), Bucculatrix coronatella, Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americana), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), hag moth (Phobetron pithecium), Maple spanworm (Ennomos magnaria), Morrisonia latex, Nites betulella, Parornix conspicuella, Parornix obliterella, Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Pseudotelphusa betulella, Red-bordered Emerald (Nemoria bistriaria), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Yellownecked caterpillar (Datana ministra)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Moths:birch dagger moth (Acronicta betulae), Coelodasys Packard, Elm Sphinx (Ceratomia amyntor), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Schizura ipomaeae Butterflies:⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Can resprout from the root crown following fire damage. Not fire-dependent but tolerates occasional fire in floodplain ecosystems.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moist, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.0 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found along riverbanks and floodplains
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination and should be surface sown. Fresh seed germinates best; viability declines rapidly in storage.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are cold stratified for 30 to 60 days. Stratification improves germination, but is not necessary if seeds are exposed to light during germination.
Establishment: River birch is found within temperate deciduous forests of North America, predominantly in central, southeastern, and northeastern portions of the United States. It inhabits river banks and floodplains, often where land is periodically inundated with water. Germination is greater in light than in dark.
Source: npn.rngr.net