Flowering TreesRiver Birch
Betula nigra
River Birch (Betula nigra) is a fast-growing flowering tree, hardy in USDA zones 4-9, that matures to about 40-70 ft × 40-60 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with high water needs in well-drained, moist and occasionally-dry soil. Expect yellow and green blooms in spring. It attracts butterflies, moths and small mammals, stands up well to black walnut, compaction and deer.
- USDA zones
- 4-9
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Water
- High
- Mature size
- 40-70 ft × 40-60 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally-dry, Occasionally-wet
- Bloom color
- Yellow, Green
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Moths, Small mammals, Songbirds
- Tough against
- Black walnut, Compaction, Deer, Drought, Fire, Heat, Pollution, Wet soil, Wind
- Native to
- Eastern United States
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — River Birch is hardy to about -30°F (estimated from USDA zone 4), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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