River Birch (Betula nigra)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Fagales>Betulaceae>Betula nigra L.

River Birch (Betula nigra)

A common and familiar medium-large tree found mostly along streambanks.

Durham Co., NC 8/21/05.

River Birch (Betula nigra)

The leaves are slightly paler beneath.

Chatham Co., NC 9/20/03.

The long male flowering structures (catkins) hang down from the ends of branches, while the shorter female cone-like flowers and fruits are upright.

Durham Co., NC 4/1/07.

River Birch (Betula nigra)

The bark of smaller branches is smooth and reddish-brown with horizontally-elongated lenticels. The bark on larger branches peels into large pale gray papery plates.

Chatham Co., NC 9/20/03.

The unique bark is one of several attributes that makes this a favorite for planting as an ornamental.

Durham Co., NC 4/1/07.

River Birch (Betula nigra)

Chatham Co., NC 9/20/03.

Bark of a large tree.

Durham Co., NC 4/1/07.

River Birch (Betula nigra)

The bark of large trees is more furrowed than flaky.

Harnett Co., NC 8/18/05.

More information:
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
Silvics Manual
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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Revised 6/3/08 cwcook@duke.edu

All photographs and text ©2008 by Will Cook unless otherwise indicated.