Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Butterflies & moths
- Small mammals
Turkeys, grouse, songbirds and rodents eat the seeds and catkins, and it hosts mourning cloak butterfly caterpillars.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 18–24 in tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native tree
River Birch
Betula nigra
- Ships 18–24 in tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 4–9
- Grows 40–70 ft
$15.95
5.0 out of 5 · 1 reviewsThe quick answer
River birch is a fast-growing native tree for USDA zones 4-9 that reaches 40-70 feet tall and 40-60 feet wide. It takes full sun to part shade and thrives in wet, acidic soil. Buy it for peeling cinnamon-and-cream bark, tolerance of soggy spots and resistance to bronze birch borer. This pack has three trees.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
River Birch plant profile
Mature size40–70 ft tall · 40–60 ft wide
Typical (40 ft)Up to 70 ft
Often multi-trunked with an upright, oval to rounded crown and peeling cinnamon-and-cream bark.
USDA hardiness zones4–9
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Full sun to part shade; best leaf color in full sun.
SoilpH 5.0–6.5
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Thrives in moist to wet soil, tolerates clay and occasional flooding.
Native to the USYellow fall color
Flowers & fruit
Not grown for flowers; catkins appear in spring and release small winged seeds in late spring to summer.
Leaves & fall color
Yellow in fall. Diamond-shaped, toothed leaves with modest yellow fall color; some leaves may drop early in drought.
Pests & disease
Resistant to bronze birch borer. Leaf spot, aphids and iron chlorosis in alkaline soil are the usual problems.
Pruning
Prune in summer, fall or winter to remove low, dead or crossing branches. Avoid spring, when birches bleed sap heavily.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$15.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your River Birch
SPRINGCatkins dangle as the leaves open; avoid pruning while sap is running.
SUMMERGlossy green leaves; may drop some yellow leaves in drought.
LATE SUMMERSmall winged seeds drop from the catkins.
FALLModest yellow color, then peeling cinnamon-and-cream bark all winter.
Questions people ask about River Birch
Is river birch resistant to bronze birch borer?
Yes. River birch is resistant to bronze birch borer, which makes it the best birch for warmer areas.
Will river birch grow in wet soil?
Yes. It thrives in moist to wet soil and tolerates occasional flooding, making it a good fit for low spots and rain gardens.
Why are my river birch leaves turning yellow in summer?
Yellow leaves with green veins usually mean the soil is too alkaline; river birch prefers acidic soil. Some yellow leaves also drop naturally during drought.
How many trees come in the river birch 3-pack?
You receive three dormant bare-root river birch trees, each about 18-24 inches tall. Plant them a few feet apart for a clump look or far apart as separate trees.
When should I prune a river birch?
Prune in summer, fall or winter rather than spring, when birches bleed sap heavily.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
Customer Reviews
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Great product and directions for planting and caring for going forward.
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: NC State Extension, Morton Arboretum.